Specific migration

What is specific migration?

Specific migration refers to the transfer of a targeted chemical substance from a material (plastic, coating, adhesive, varnish, etc.) into food or a food simulant under standardized conditions. This analysis aims to quantify a specific substance that is potentially regulated or hazardous to health.

Targeted substances may include:

• Bisphenols (BPA, BADGE, BFDGE…)
• Phthalates and other plasticizers
• Heavy metals or trace elements (Pb, Cd, Al, etc.)
• Amides, residual solvents, NIAS compounds
• Additives or photoinitiators

Why perform a specific migration analysis?

This analysis is essential for:

• Comply with Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on materials in contact with food
• Check the specific migration limits (SML) imposed by European regulations
• Ensuring consumer safety in the face of potentially toxic or endocrine-disrupting substances
• Anticipate the requirements of quality audits, distributors or health authorities
• Documenting mandatory Declarations of Conformity (DoCs) for food materials and articles

Unlike global migration, which measures all migrating substances, specific migration focuses on a molecule or group of targeted substances, at very strict thresholds (e.g., BPA ≤ 0.05 mg/kg).

Available analytical methods

The analysis is performed by combining a standardized extraction on a simulant (ethanol, acetic acid, vegetable oil, etc.) with a targeted assay technique:

• GC-MS (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry): for volatile organic compounds
• LC-MS (liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry): for thermosensitive or polar compounds
• ICP-MS / ICP-OES: for metals and minerals (lead, aluminum, cadmium, iron, etc.)
• Methods compliant with EC Regulation 1935/2004 and EFSA/ISO guidelines

Each method is selected according to the type of substance, the material being tested, and the applicable regulations.

Affected matrices

This analysis applies to many food contact materials (FCMs):

• Flexible or rigid plastic packaging
• Ceramics, glass, coated metals
• Printing inks, multilayer films, coated papers and cardboards
• Adhesives, varnishes, barrier or intermediate coatings
• Food preparation equipment or utensils made of composite materials

Links to specific analyses available on YesWeLab

→ BADGE (Bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) assay
→ BFDGE (Bisphenol F diglycidyl ether) assay
→ Bisphenol A, F, S, B and AF assay

These targeted analyses can be integrated into a specific overall migration plan, depending on your materials and end use.

YesWeLab support

At YesWeLab , we help you ensure regulatory compliance and health safety of your materials through a network of ISO 17025 accredited laboratories, specializing in migration analysis and material compliance.

We support you for:

• Choose the method best suited to your product and the targeted substance
• Determine the applicable SMLs
• Provide an actionable analysis report for your audits or declarations
• Incorporate the results into comprehensive compliance documentation

Thanks to our digital platform, you can centralize your requests, track your projects in real time, and access your results simply and securely.

Need a specific migration analysis?

YesWeLab supports you in managing the regulated migration of your materials.
Contact our team now for a personalized quote or to discuss your specifications.