EC FOOD DIRECTIVE

The parent directive EC/1935/2004 fixes general regulations for all materials intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. It stipulates that under normal conditions of use. 

The materials used should not yield to food components in a quantity likely to present a danger to human health or to involve an unacceptable modification of the composition of the food products and there should be no deterioration of their organoleptic characters. The specific directives supplement the parent directive and apply to groups distinct from materials, there are seventeen categories in total:

        • Intelligent materials and articles,
        • Adhesives,
        • Metals and alloys,
        • Rubbers,
        • Ceramics,
        • Cork,
        • Glass,
        • Exchanging resins of ions,
        • Papers and paperboards,
        • Plastics,
        • Printing inks,
        • Regenerated celluloses,
        • Silicones,
        • Textiles,
        • Varnishes and coatings,
        • Waxes,
        • Wood.

The gloves are governed by the directive specific to the Plastics category. In order to evaluate the transfer of components of plastic materials in contact with the foodstuffs, migration tests are carried out. The directive defines:

• the limit of total migration fixed at 10mg/dm2, the glove should not yield beyond 10mg substances by dm2 of its surface with the foodstuffs
• specific limit of migration which applies to certain substances and additives of the glove.

The control of the limits of migration in the foodstuffs is carried out under the conditions of the most extreme duration and temperature foreseeable.

The foodstuffs are divided into four classes: aqueous food, acidic food, alcohols and fatty food. The gloves can be tested for all four of the food classes or for an individual food class, according to their final use. If the glove is only suitable for certain classes of food, this must be clearly indicated. 

The gloves authorised for food contact must comprise the following pictogram: