NIAS assay

NIAS (Non-Intentionally Added Substances) refer to substances not intentionally added during the manufacture of a material or object. They appear as by-products of chemical reactions, residual impurities, degradation products, or through migration of compounds from recycled materials.

Their presence in materials, particularly those intended for food contact, raises major regulatory and health concerns. Therefore, measuring NIAS is essential to characterize and ensure the safety of polymeric, plastic, or complex materials, and to demonstrate compliance with European regulations.

Analytical methods

NIAS analysis relies on untargeted and targeted screening approaches, primarily using chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry:

• GC-MS for the detection and identification of volatile and semi-volatile compounds.
• LC-MS/MS for the analysis of non-volatile, polar or thermosensitive compounds.

These techniques allow for a complete profile of the substances present in the material, even when they were not intentionally added. They are often complemented by a toxicological assessment based on the chemical structure of the detected compounds (TTC approach: Threshold of Toxicological Concern).

Affected matrices

NIAS assay can be applied to a wide variety of materials:

• Virgin or recycled plastics and polymers
• Glues and adhesives used in packaging
• Printing inks and varnishes
• Complex multilayer materials intended for the food or cosmetics industry
• Protective coatings or functional barriers

Industrial applications

• Food packaging : verification of compliance with Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials in contact with food.
• Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals : securing polymer packaging and containers.
• Recycled materials : detection of contaminants related to the plastics reuse cycle.
• Innovation : quality control of new materials to assess their safety and durability.

Additional analyses

NIAS analysis can be combined with other services for a complete characterization of materials:

• Global migration tests to measure the total amount of substances released.
• Specific migration assays to target certain regulated molecules.
• Determination of styrene and other residual monomers.
• Bisphenol A and derivative levels to verify regulatory compliance.

This combined approach offers a comprehensive and detailed view of the chemical composition of materials, while facilitating their compliance.

Regulations and quality issues

Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 mandates the control and declaration of substances present in food contact plastics. Non-alcoholic active substances (NAAs) are specifically mentioned, and their assessment must be carried out using appropriate analyses and a toxicological approach.

The absence of controls can lead to a risk of non-compliance, or even the withdrawal of the products concerned from the market. NIAS testing is therefore a strategic tool for anticipating controls, ensuring safe marketing, and meeting the expectations of authorities and consumers regarding safety and transparency.

YesWeLab expertise

YesWeLab collaborates with partner laboratories specializing in materials and polymer analysis, accredited to ISO 17025 and, in some cases, recognized by COFRAC. Thanks to our expertise and digital platform, we simplify analysis management: online requests, sample tracking, and centralized results.

Since 2020, many manufacturers in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors have entrusted us with their samples for quality control and compliance of their materials.