GB 4806.14-2023 National Food Safety Standard (Inks for Food Contact Materials and Products) Released

On September 25 , 2023 , the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China ( NHC ) released the new standard GB 4806.14-2023 " National Food Safety Standard Inks for Food Contact Materials and Products". The official implementation date of this standard is September 6 , 2024 .

GB 4806.14-2023 is the first ink standard issued by my country for food contact materials and products.

The main contents of the standard are as follows:

1  Scope: Suitable for inks used in food contact materials and products and the printing ink layers formed thereon.

2  Terms and Definitions: Ink for food contact materials and products: Ink intended to be printed on food contact materials and products, in direct contact with food or in indirect contact with food but whose components may be transferred to food. Also includes varnish used with inks.

3  Product classification: According to whether it is in direct contact with food, it is divided into: ink for direct contact with food and ink for indirect contact with food.

4Basic  requirements: Comply with  GB 4806.1 ; Risk control in production and printing links :  Comply with  GB 31603 , and clarify the safety risk control requirements for production companies and printing companies.

5  Technical requirements:
5.1 Raw material requirements: Basic raw materials: Inks for direct contact with food should comply with  GB 2760  and related announcement requirements; inks for indirect contact with food should comply with GB9685 colorant purity requirements and other basic raw material requirements. Additives: Inks for direct contact with food should comply with  GB 2760  and relevant announcement requirements; inks for indirect food contact should comply with GB9685 and relevant announcement requirements. The same basic ingredients and additives used in direct food contact inks can also be used in indirect food contact inks.

5.2 Sensory requirements: Meet the sensory requirements of the final product and soaking liquid

5.3 Physical and chemical indicators: General physical and chemical indicators : heavy metal residues  ( ink ) , migration products ( final products ) ; other physical and chemical indicators : basic raw materials and additive restrictions.

6  Others : Migration experiments should comply with the regulations of GB 31604.1  and  GB 5009.156 ; label identification should comply with the regulations of GB 4806.1 . Special requirements: Ink products should be identified with product categories; the suitable printing substrate and printing process should be indicated on the label or accompanying documents. and special usage requirements and other information.