Materials

Good manufacturing practices in food contact materials (fcm)

All Materials and objects intended to come into Contact directly or indirectly with Food (FCM) must comply with European Regulation EC 1935/2004. The Regulation aims to guarantee and protect human health and consumer interests. The Regulation 2023/2006 (GMP), currently in use, establishes the rules relating to good manufacturing practices for materials and objects intended for contact with food and applies to all stages of production, processing and distribution.

 

What do European Regulations Say?

According to the a.m. European Regulations, the object or material for food contact must not:

  • Represent a risk for health
  • Change the composition of the food
  • Unfavourably modify the organoleptic characteristics of the food

The traceability of the entire supply chain must be guaranteed at every stage of the process, from production to distribution.

 

Quality and Safety

Based on these principles, all the FCMs must comply with Good Manufacturing Practices, be managed by adequate quality procedures, control system and correct documentation management. All FCMs are therefore based on two fundamentals that are general principles of safety:

  • Regulation 1935/2004 / CE: product safety
  • Regulation 2023/2006 / CE: requirements and hygiene of the process
 

Regulations on the Use of Rubber

Nowadays, for rubber, there are no specific European Regulations that can provide a list of polymers and ingredients suitable for the production of objects and materials suitable for contact with food.

Therefore, the following National Regulations and official national guidelines are currently still in force:

  • DM (Ministerial Decree) of 03/21/1973 for Italy
  • BfR (Bundestamt fü Risikobewertung) Recommendations for Germany
  • Arrêté du 9 November 1994 for France
  • FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) for the USA

Each National Regulation draws up its own list of substances that can be used for the preparation of materials and objects suitable for contact with food. Each manufacturer must strictly observe the list and the use of substances that are not listed is not allowed. The use of substances not included in each Regulation results in administrative and criminal sanctions.

 

The Principles of MTG on GMPs

MTG has been working with this philosophy for 40 years, focusing its activities on the choice of raw materials, the definition of correct processes from year to year in order to comply with the requirements of several existing regulations.

For further information on which Regulations our food hoses comply with, please visit the section Food Industry hoses on our website or contact the MTG Sales Office.

SLIDEFLEX

Innovative hose for suction and delivery of premium quality alcoholic beverages (wine and beer), soft drinks and fat-free liquid foodstuffs. Wide corrugated cover with special glossy finish, easy to clean and to handle.

MTG BREWART

Robust hose specifically designed for delivery of different types of beer, high quality alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Inner liner in BIIR rubber. Validation according to "Technische Universität München WEIHENSTEPHAN".

MASTERMILK/SD

Rubber hose suitable for conveying fatty and fat-free foodstuff, ideal for use in dairy equipments and unloading platforms requiring flexibility and resistance to light and medium-duty applications. Inner liner in NBR rubber.

MTG STEAM

Food quality EPDM rubber hose, designed for cleaning operations with saturated steam (up to +164°C) and hot water washdown services.

AIR-FOOD ANTISTATIC

Antistatic hose for suction and delivery of fatty and non fatty food powders, liquids such as alcohols or other flammable products. Inner liner in white food grade antistatic NBR rubber.

GRANOFOOD/CLC/4

Hose for suction and delivery of food powders and grains, designed for heavy-duty applications where a high abrasion resistance of the inner tube is required. Antistatic wide-corrugated cover.