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Filtration and Food Contact Compliance

Supplying food and beverage products that allows you to maintain the highest Good Manufacturing Practice standards

One Step Closer to Consumer Protection

‌Pall FCC Products

 
‌Higher quality standards and focus on improved customer protection lead to a series of compliance requirements in the Food and Beverage industry, consolidating and extending existing regulations on food safety. This includes requirements for products intended to come in contact with food leading to specific standards relevant for food manufacturers and their suppliers.
 
‌For food contact materials in the Food and Beverage industry, the EU Framework Regulation on Food Contact Materials — European Regulation Number (EC) 1935/2004 applies. The primary premise of all food contact regulations is that materials or articles which are intended to come into contact with foods, beverages, or other consumable ingredients should not release materials considered harmful to health or detrimental to product quality under normal foreseeable conditions. However, there is as yet no global harmonized approach to evaluating materials. While the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) affirms a positive listing of monomer and additive substances plus some materials testing, dependent on the polymer as detailed in the Code of Federal Regulations 21 CFR 170-199, the EU requirements establish methods by which all finished polymer materials or articles that come into contact with food and beverages must be evaluated.
 
‌Initially, the Food and Beverage industry focused on packaging materials. It also considers products used in the production process – e.g., filters.
Filters are critical components and widely used in the Food and Beverage Industry such that finished articles or materials extractable testing are is mandatory in Europe. Meeting a relevant section of 21CFR for FDA is not sufficient to comply with EU requirements. To ensure food contact compliance, manufacturers should consider the specific regulations where the food or beverage is produced and where it is sold.
 
‌Good manufacturing practices and quality systems (International Standards Organization, ISO), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA), and International Food Standard (IFS) audits have increased the need for documentation. Declarations of Compliance for food contact materials used in packaging and production help to satisfy audit requirements.

 

‌The Pall Solution


Pall Food and Beverage has undertaken an exhaustive review and qualification of products sold in the Food and Beverage industry to the current regulations. After intensive test programs, including the substitution of critical substances, we have qualified a specific range of food contact compliant (FCC) products for the Food and Beverage market.

 

‌Many of these products may be identified by the letter ‘W’ in the Pall product part number. There are other products with numerical part codes that are also part of the program. All products, regardless of a part number, to be used in liquid food contact applications have a fork and glass symbol on the product's external and internal packaging. Products intended only for indirect food contact (e.g., air/gas applications) are ‘W-Coded’ but do not have a fork and glass symbol on the product.

  • ‌Vendor declarations confirm materials of construction are appropriately listed for use with food or are specifically excluded from local regulatory requirements.
  • Extractables testing has included independent test laboratories utilizing relevant model fluids or simulants deemed appropriate for intended applications. Filters and/or component materials were evaluated within appropriate model simulants (e.g., extended contact time and elevated temperature), as identified on the Declaration of Compliance.
 
 

‌Specific Declarations of Compliance for these filters are available on the Pall website http://www.pall.com/foodandbev. These “Declaration of Compliance” statements are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance to new or changes in the regulations.

 
‌By investing in a Food and Beverage specific and ‘fit-for-purpose’ product portfolio, Pall supplies products that comply with the most current regulations allowing the industry to maintain the highest good manufacturing practice standards.
Contact your sales representative for more information.

‌Higher quality standards and focus on improved customer protection lead to a series of compliance requirements in the Food and Beverage industry, consolidating and extending existing regulations on food safety. This includes requirements for products intended to come in contact with food leading to specific standards relevant for food manufacturers and their suppliers.