Unveiling the Secrets of Export Testing and Certification in the Water Bottle Industry: Part 2 - Materials Testing

There are stories in every cup, and warmth in every life. Hello everyone, welcome to "Dong Dong's Cup Talk" A while back, I shared some insights about the testing and certifications required for exporting water bottle products. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlSince then, many regions and countries have updated their testing standards for water bottles. To provide you with more valuable and accurate information, I’ve invited two highly "authoritative" friends to share their expertise.

While organizing the materials, I realized that presenting from their independent perspectives might make it easy to lose track of the bigger picture. So, I’ve decided to structure the sharing based on the topics you care about most. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlThis way, the insights from both experts will intersect and complement each other throughout the discussion, making the content more practical for you. Due to the breadth of the topic, I’ll break this into several independent posts.

In the previous article, we shared some of the requirements for material testing, and we received a lot of requests from our readers for more. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlToday, we will continue to share the remaining content with you.

2. REACH Testing:

This is a mandatory regulation in the EU, focusing on the SVHC (Substances of Very High Concern) list, which now includes over 200 substances. For example, phthalates (plasticizers) in plastic water bottles are tested with a limit typically set at 0.1%. In one case, a company used recycled silicone to produce water bottles, https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlresulting in the detection of excessive Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), violating REACH requirements and causing the entire shipment to be returned. REACH testing ensures materials do not release harmful chemicals throughout their lifecycle.

3. LFGB Testing:

German standards are more stringent, including not only migration tests but also sensory tests (e.g., odor and taste evaluation). For instance, TRITAN materials must pass LFGB §30 and §31 migration tests, simulating heavy metal release when the cup comes into contact with acidic beverages. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlAt SGS, we once tested a PPSU water bottle where the material report was compliant, but the finished product failed the LFGB sensory test due to an odor caused by residual solvents not being properly removed during production.

Expanding to Asian Countries:

1. South Korean Import Requirements:

The standards of the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) are similar to the FDA but include additional migration tests for specific heavy metals (e.g., lead and cadmium) with stricter limits. For example, https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlSouth Korea requires the lead migration level in stainless steel water bottles not to exceed 0.01 mg/L. In practice, South Korean standards are frequently updated, and companies often face risks due to outdated information.

2. Japanese Import Requirements:

Japan follows the Food Sanitation Act and JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards), focusing on material elution tests. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlFor example, silicone water bottles must pass formaldehyde elution tests, with a limit of non-detection. We once assisted an exporter in adjusting their formula to meet Japan's strict requirements for nickel migration.

Why Material Testing Alone Is Insufficient:

Providing only material inspection certificates is not enough because material testing only evaluates the raw materials themselves. https://www.umbottle.com/ProductsDetail-VB-10532.htmlThe finished product may introduce new risks due to processing techniques, assembly, or usage conditions. This is precisely why finished product testing is indispensable.