QM and QMS criteria assessment

Materials and articles intended for food contact must meet strict requirements to guarantee consumer safety. These requirements include the QM (Maximum Quantity) and QMS (Maximum Specific Quantity) , which correspond to the regulatory limits imposed for residual substances present in materials. These criteria ensure that components likely to migrate into food do not exceed the thresholds defined by European regulations. Measuring QM and QMS levels is therefore an essential step in quality control and the placing on the market of packaging, coatings, and materials in contact with food.

Analytical methods for QM and QMS assays

The choice of analytical method depends on the nature of the substances being sought and the material being studied.

• HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) : suitable for the detection of organic substances such as additives or residual monomers.
• LC-GC-FID (Liquid Chromatography coupled with Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection) : used for the analysis of volatile or semi-volatile compounds in polymers and coatings.
• ICP-MS and ICP-AES/ICP-OES (Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Mass Spectrometry) : applied to the determination of inorganic elements and trace metals that can migrate from materials into foodstuffs.
• GC-MS (Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry) and LC-MS (Liquid Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry) : for sensitive and specific detection of regulated organic substances.

These methods complement analyses already widely used in food packaging control, such as HPLC and ICP-MS.

Industrial and regulatory applications

The measurement of QM and QMS criteria concerns the entire industrial chain related to packaging and materials in contact with food:

• Manufacturers of plastic packaging, paper, inks and varnishes : to validate the conformity of their products to European standards.
• Food industry professionals : to ensure that the packaging used complies with specific migration limits.
• Distributors and importers : to verify the regulatory compliance of materials from external suppliers.
• R&D laboratories : to assess the impact of new formulations on the migration of residual substances.

This analysis is complementary to those focusing on specific substances such as bisphenol A , BADGE or BFDGE , which are frequently monitored in plastic and composite materials.

Matrices analyzed for QM and QMS assays

YesWeLab's partner laboratories perform these analyses on a wide range of matrices, including: plastics and polymers, inks and coatings, glasses and ceramics, composites, films and flexible packaging, and metallic objects with protective coatings. Each type of matrix requires specific preparation and an appropriate method to ensure reliable results.

Compliance and traceability issues

Compliance with QM and QMS criteria is a major issue for manufacturers. It allows them to: guarantee consumer health and safety, meet European regulatory obligations (notably EC Regulation No. 1935/2004 and regulations specific to plastics), avoid the risk of non-compliance during official inspections, and strengthen the confidence of distributors and consumers. Controlling these parameters is similar to the procedures used for measuring regulated compounds such as bisphenols or additives .

YesWeLab's expertise in QM and QMS dosing

YesWeLab collaborates with over 200 partner laboratories in France and Europe, rigorously selected for their expertise in physicochemical analysis and their accreditations (ISO 17025, COFRAC, etc.). Our scientific team analyzes your needs to guide you toward the most suitable technique based on the substances being analyzed and your regulatory requirements. Thanks to our digital platform, you can easily manage your analysis requests: online quotes, sample tracking, and rapid results delivery. Since 2020, numerous manufacturers, distributors, and engineering firms have entrusted us with the management of their analyses to ensure the safety of their packaging and materials.

Take action

Do you want to verify the regulatory compliance of your packaging or food contact materials? Entrust your samples to YesWeLab for reliable and precise QM and QMS testing. Request a quote online now for your analyses.