FDA & EU - esbelt

Food-safe belts

FDA
EC Regulation 1935/2004 and EC Regulation 2023/2006
EU Regulation 10/2011 and the Declaration of Conformity
HACCP

The main objective of food regulations is to ensure food safety and protect human health. They restrict the type of substances that can be used and their dosage. These standards are constantly updated.

A certificate that simply states that a belt is “food grade,” or suitable for contact with food, does not accredit that the belt complies with food regulations.

FDA

The mission of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is to ensure safe food. Conveyor belts are subject to FCM (Food Contact Material) restrictions. The FDA does not approve or certify specific products that may come into contact with food, but it regulates the conditions of safe use of the substances used in manufacturing. The part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that regulates FCM (Food Contact Material) is Title 21, chapter I, subchapter B.

EC Regulation 1935/2004 and EC Regulation 2023/2006

Within the European Union, all materials and objects intended to come into contact with food must comply with EC Framework Regulation 1935/2004. This Regulation states that these materials may not endanger human health or cause changes in the odor, composition, color, or taste of food. In addition, they must be manufactured in accordance with the good manufacturing practices regulated by EC Regulation 2023/2006.

These regulations apply to all materials in contact with food. In the case of plastic materials, the specific regulation they must comply with is Regulation (EU) 10/2011.

EU Regulation 10/2011 and the Declaration of Conformity

Regulation (EU) 10/2011 establishes the obligations to be met by plastic materials intended to come into contact with food. It details the Union List that defines the authorized substances, as well as the restrictions and migration limits that must be met.

The test conditions and simulants are also stipulated in this Regulation. Compliance with this important standard is accredited by Declarations of Conformity that every manufacturer, distributor, or importer of conveyor belts is obliged to offer to its customers.

Declarations of conformity

esbelt® performs tests in an internal laboratory and collaborates with certified external laboratories to verify food conformity. Simulants and test conditions are applied according to regulations to ensure safety in normal and foreseeable use.

esbelt®’s compliance with FDA and EU Regulations is based on:

Use of approved raw materials.
Manufacturing under good practices.
Migration tests and complete traceability.
Certification through declarations of conformity.