Plastics must comply with governmental regulations for food contact and use in electrical applications.  Plastic Failure Labs partner labs are ISO9000 certified and UL registerd.  We do most of the tests required to help you ensure that your plastic products are regulatory compliant.  We do extraction studies using food simulants to determine if additives in your products migrate or stay in the plastic.  We can perform most of the ASTM tests on plastics.

The initial consultation is always free.  Email us today.

FDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the regulatory agency of the United States government that is responsible for determining how materials may be used in contact with food products. The FDA participates in publication of The Federal Register, which contains The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), a codification of the general rules established by the Executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government. The Code is divided into 50 titles which represent a broad subject matter.

Definitions for proper use of food contact materials are found in a series of regulations published annually under The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 21. Title 21 - Food and Drugs is composed of nine volumes, which are subdivided into Parts. Part 177 - Indirect Food Additives: Polymers lists standards for polymers acceptable for use in components of single and repeat use food contact surfaces. Part 178 - Indirect Food Additives: Adjuvants, Production Aids, and Sanitizers includes standards for certain polymer additives. Parts are divided into Sections identified by chemical family which indicate physical, chemical, and compositional requirements, as well as acceptable service conditions for food contact. Regulations generally limit the extractable substance when exposed to selected solvents.

Within the FDA, there is no government-operated process of inspection of plastics produced for food contact use. Rather, the FDA in their regulations provides certain specifications regarding composition, additives, and properties. A material which meets these standards can then be stated as FDA COMPLIANT. End users should note that it is their responsibility to use the product in a manner compatible with FDA guidelines.

For further information on FDA regulations, contact the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Office of Premarket Approval HFS-216, 200 C. Street SW, Washington, DC 20204, by phone at (202) 418-3080, or visit them at http://www.fda.gov on the Internet.

ASTM

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is a not-for-profit organization, which provides a forum for producer, users, and consumers to establish standards for materials, products, systems, and services. ASTM standards are developed voluntarily and used voluntarily. Standards become legally binding only when a government body references them in regulations, or when they are cited in a contract. ASTM standards referenced in this Guide pertain to characteristics of plastic resins prepared for property testing via injection molding. Property values listed in these Standards are not always representative of extruded shapes.

For further information on ASTM Standards, contact ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, by phone at (610) 832-9500, or visit them at http://www.astm.org on the Internet.

UL

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is an independent, not-for-profit organization chartered "to establish, maintain, and operate laboratories for the investigation of devices, systems, and materials with respect to hazards affecting life and property." "Listing", the most widely recognized of UL's services, means that samples of a product have been evaluated, and they comply with UL Standards. Products tested and recognized by UL are listed in a Component Directory. Plastic Materials can be evaluated per the following UL Test Methods:

UL746A Polymeric Materials - Short Term Property Evaluations

UL746B Polymeric Materials - Long Term Property Evaluations

UL746C Polymeric Materials - Use in Electrical Equipment Evaluations

UL94 Test for Flammability of Plastic Materials

These tests are described in detail in Plastics Recognized Component Directory - Polymeric Materials, Processes and Systems, available from UL.

For further information, contact Underwriters Laboratories, 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL 60062-2096, by phone at (847) 282-8800, or visit them at http://www.ul.com on the Internet.