Standardized Methodology
European testing standards describe laboratory test methods for the determination of overall migration from plastics and polymeric coatings intended to contact foodstuffs. The standard establishes specific protocols to quantify the total mass of non-volatile substances that transfer from a packaging surface into standardized liquid food simulants. Within packaging conversion, standard en 1186 evaluates plastic-laminated boards, aqueous dispersion-coated papers, and heat-sealable polymer layers applied to cartonboard.
The methodology applies to materials exposed to aqueous, acidic, alcoholic, and fatty food contact environments. It stops applying to uncoated paper and board substrates, which instead undergo dedicated cold water extraction or solvent extraction testing.
Analytical Procedure
Testing requires exposing packaging specimens to selected food simulants under controlled contact geometries, temperatures, and dwell times. Under standard en 1186, laboratory technicians select testing methods including total immersion, single-sided migration cells, or pouch testing depending on package construction. Single-sided migration cells are standard for coated paperboard, ensuring that only the functional polymer surface contacts the liquid simulant, preventing raw edge fiber absorption.
Following incubation in temperature-controlled ovens simulating ambient storage, hot filling, or microwave heating, the simulant liquid is collected. The liquid is evaporated to complete dryness, and the remaining non-volatile residue is determined gravimetrically using an analytical balance with a precision of zero point one milligrams. The overall migration value is expressed in milligrams per square decimeter of packaging surface or milligrams per kilogram of food simulant.
Compliance Verification
Packaging converters require overall migration test certificates before approving novel barrier-coated paperboard grades for commercial food packaging. Sourcing specifications stipulate that barrier coatings tested under standard en 1186 must not exceed the statutory overall migration limit of ten milligrams per square decimeter. Exceeding this limit invalidates food contact clearance, requiring reformulations of dispersion binders, wax blends, or polymer extrusion layers.
Certified test results provide verifiable technical documentation to support customer declarations of conformity.
