The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008

PART 6 N.I. Substitute Fat Test for Overall and Specific Migration

76.  Subject to paragraphs 2, 4 and 5, all the test media specified in the Table to this Part shall be used in the substitute fat test for overall or specific migration under the test conditions corresponding to the test conditions for simulant D. N.I.

Commencement Information

I1 Sch. 3 para. 76 in operation at 5.5.2008, see reg. 1(b)

77.  Test conditions other than those specified in the Table to this Part may be used in the substitute fat test if the assumptions underlying the test conditions specified in that Table and, where the plastic material or article being tested is a polymer, the existing experience of that type of polymer are taken into account. N.I.

Commencement Information

I2 Sch. 3 para. 77 in operation at 5.5.2008, see reg. 1(b)

78.  For each test— N.I.

(a) a new test specimen shall be used;

(b) the rules prescribed for simulant D in Parts 3, 4 and 5 shall be applied for each test medium;

(c) subject to paragraph 4, compliance with a migration limit shall be determined by selecting the highest value using all the test methods.

Commencement Information

I3 Sch. 3 para. 78 in operation at 5.5.2008, see reg. 1(b)

79.  Where carrying out a migration test causes any physical or other change in the test specimen which does not occur under the worst foreseeable conditions of use of the plastic material or article the result of that test shall not be used to ascertain compliance with a migration limit. N.I.

Commencement Information

I4 Sch. 3 para. 79 in operation at 5.5.2008, see reg. 1(b)

80.  Any test conditions in the Table to this Part which are generally recognised on the basis of scientific evidence as not being appropriate for the material or article to be tested shall not be used. N.I.

Commencement Information

I5 Sch. 3 para. 80 in operation at 5.5.2008, see reg. 1(b)

81.  The Table to this Part shall be read with the notes to it. N.I.

Conventional conditions for substitute tests

Test conditions with simulant D	Test conditions with isooctane	Test conditions with ethanol 95%	Test conditions with MPPO(1)
(1) MPPO = Modified polyphenylene oxide
(2) The volatile test media are used up to a maximum temperature of 60°C. A precondition of using these tests is that the material or article will withstand the test conditions that would otherwise be used with simulant D. Immerse a test specimen in olive oil under the appropriate conditions. If the physical properties are changed (eg melting, deformation) then the material is considered unsuitable for use at that temperature. If the physical properties are not changed then proceed with the substitute tests using new specimens.
10 days at 5°C	0.5 days at 5°C	10 days at 5°C
10 days at 20°C	1 day at 20°C	10 days at 20°C
10 days at 40°C	2 days at 20°C	10 days at 40°C
2 hours at 70°C	0.5 hours at 40°C	2 hours at 60°C
0.5 hours at 100°C	0.5 hours at 60°C(2)	2.5 hours at 60°C	0.5 hours at 100°C
1 hour at 100°C	1 hour at 60°C(2)	3 hours at 60°C(2)	1 hour at 100°C
2 hours at 100°C	1.5 hours at 60°C(2)	3.5 hours at 60°C(2)	2 hours at 100°C
0.5 hours at 121°C	1.5 hours at 60°C(2)	3.5 hours at 60°C(2)	0.5 hours at 121°C
1 hour at 121°C	2 hours at 60°C(2)	4 hours at 60°C(2)	1 hour at 121°C
2 hours at 121°C	2.5 hours at 60°C(2)	4.5 hours at 60°C(2)	2 hours at 121°C
0.5 hours at 130°C	2 hours at 60°C(2)	4 hours at 60°C(2)	0.5 hours at 130°C
1 hour at 130°C	2.5 hours at 60°C(2)	4.5 hours at 60°C(2)	1 hour at 130°C
2 hours at 150°C	3 hours at 60°C(2)	5 hours at 60°C(2)	2 hours at 150°C
2 hours at 175°C	4 hours at 60°C(2)	6 hours at 60°C(2)	2 hours at 175°C

Commencement Information

I6 Sch. 3 para. 81 in operation at 5.5.2008, see reg. 1(b)