| GS certification mandates additional PAH testing |
 |
|
|
GS certification is a voluntary safety testing certification based on the German Equipment Safety Act. It is applicable to groceries, sporting goods, toys, and electronic products. On November 20, 2007, the AtAV committee passed a resolution mandating testing for PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), which came into effect on April 1, 2008.
Limit
According to regulations related to PAH, such as Articles 30 and 31 of the new German Food and Food Products Act (LFGB), the Berlin Export Discussion Conference on August 2, 2005, and Article 4 of the German Equipment and Product Safety Act (GPSG), there are different limits depending on the product category.
Table 1. Limits for common materials in consumer products
| Occasional (contact with skin for no more than 30 seconds) | 偶而性
(與皮膚接觸不逾30秒) |
| Benzo[a]pyrene | 1 mg/kg | 20 mg/kg |
| Total of 16 PAHs | 10 mg/kg | 200 mg/kg |
| For example | Drilling machines, electric screwdrivers, treadmills, etc. | Plugs, coffee compressors, handles, etc. |
Table 2. Limits for food, toys, and other products that may enter the mouth
| Category 1: Materials that come into contact with food or may enter the mouth. | Category 2
Toy materials not classified into Category 1
|
| Benzo[a]pyrene | 0.1 mg/kg | 1 mg/kg |
| Total of 16 PAHs | 1 mg/kg | 10 mg/kg |
*If the test result is greater than the limit for Category 1 but less than the limit for Category 2, a migration test of the PCA component must be conducted according to DIN EN 1186ff and Clause 35 of LMBG Certification 80.30-1 to determine whether it meets the standards for potential contact with food or oral mucosa. The results will be evaluated in accordance with food law standards.
**PAHs (Poly-aromatic Hydrocarbons)** PAHs, short for poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, are various types of hydrocarbons formed by the bonding of two or more benzene rings. PAHs are one of the most important groups of known environmental pollutants, polluting water, soil, air, and plants through various pathways. Due to their chemical stability, they persist in the natural environment for a long time and accumulate. Through the food chain, their concentration increases step by step, amplifying their toxic effects and easily causing pollution to the ecological environment.
| The following are all materials that may be contaminated by PAH: |
 |
| |  | Plasticizers in rubber and plastics |
|
| | | Carbon soot or black dyes in rubber and plastics |
|
| | | Surface coatings and paints |
|
| | | Naphthalene/methylnaphthalene is used as a preservative for transportation and storage. |
|
| PAH contaminants can be found not only in rubber, but also in various plastics such as ABS, PP, and paints. |
