Food Contact Materials

The Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization (SASO) published the Technical Regulation for Food Contact Materials in the Official Gazette on January 15, 2020. This regulation outlines safety and compliance requirements for materials and articles that are intended to come into direct contact with food, or that are reasonably expected to come into contact with food under normal or foreseeable conditions of use. Although these materials are not food themselves, they must meet stringent safety standards to ensure they do not pose any risk to human health.

Food contact materials encompass a wide range of products such as packaging, containers, kitchenware, cutlery, food preparation equipment, and household appliances that may come into contact with food during manufacturing, processing, storage, preparation, or serving. The regulation is designed to prevent such materials from releasing hazardous substances into food, altering its composition, or affecting its taste or odor.

The regulation applies to both disposable and reusable products used in domestic kitchens, food services, catering, and food production settings. It includes materials such as plastic, metal, glass, ceramics, paper, and coatings that directly or indirectly interact with food throughout their lifecycle.

Basic Requirements for Compliance and Certification:

• Products must be manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practices (GMP).
• Materials must not contaminate or alter the food in a harmful manner.
• Only materials certified as food-safe should be used in production.
• Paints and ink coatings that may come into direct contact with food must be food-safe and comply with relevant safety standards.
• Printed information or branding should be positioned away from surfaces that are intended to contact food.