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Global trade is becoming more and more prevalent, and safety is one of the key concerns. Stainless steel kitchenware, as a food contact material, requires safety certification to be imported and exported. Chances, as a manufacturer and wholesaler of stainless steel kitchenware, produces products that are certified to a variety of international standards. We are deeply aware of the importance of international safety certification, which indicates that we have met the market access requirements, safe and quality products to win the trust and cooperation of customers.
There are many types of international certification standards, today we will talk about the most common German LFGB certification and the U.S. FDA certification. What is the difference between the two? Which certification is more critical for exporters? This article will provide you with a detailed analysis.
【What is LFGB certification?】
LFGB stands for Lebensmittel-, Bedarfsgegenstände- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch and is the basic German regulation for food-grade products. Food contact materials such as stainless steel kitchenware, cutlery, food storage containers, etc. that want to enter the German market must fulfill the LFGB requirements.
Features of LFGB certification:
- Extremely high safety standards: Compared with other national standards, LFGB testing is more stringent, with particular attention to whether the material releases harmful substances at high temperatures, acid and alkali environments.
- No sensory transfer: the products are required not to cause any change in smell, taste and color of the food in the process of use.
- Comprehensive test items: covering heavy metal precipitation, organic migrants, odor testing, structural integrity and so on.
For manufacturers exporting to Europe (especially Germany), LFGB certification is almost a “hard threshold”.
【What is FDA certification?】
FDA is the abbreviation of Food and Drug Administration, which is responsible for regulating food, drugs, food contact materials, etc. entering the U.S. market. This includes stainless steel kitchenware.
The characteristics of FDA certification:
- Focus on material compliance: for example, stainless steel must comply with FDA regulations on the proportion of metal elements (such as 18/8 or 304 grade).
- Relatively simple test items: the main focus on whether the material contains excessive hazardous substances, such as lead, cadmium and so on.
- Accept self-declaration: In many cases, companies can be tested by third-party laboratories and provide a statement of “compliance with FDA standards” without official registration and certification.
If the target market is the U.S. or North America, obtaining a certificate of FDA compliance is a basic requirement.
【LFGB vs. FDA: In-depth Comparison】
As shown in the chart:
From the table, it can be seen that the requirements for LFGB certification are significantly higher than those of the FDA, which means that products certified by the LFGB are usually accepted in the U.S. market, while the opposite may not be true.
【Which certification is more important for exporters?】
It depends on the target market:
If your main customers are located in the European market (especially Germany, Austria, Switzerland, etc.), LFGB certification is essential. Consumers in Germany have very high requirements for food safety, and retailers and wholesalers mostly purchase only LFGB certified products.
If the target market is the United States or North America, FDA standards and compliance documentation or test reports are sufficient.
For manufacturers like Chances who want to export their stainless steel kitchenware globally, the smartest strategy is dual certification: “one product, two certificates” – dual certification by LFGB and FDA provides customers with greater safety, security and market access. and greater market access.
LFGB and FDA are both important certification standards for stainless steel cookware, but each has its own focus. If exported to Europe should give priority to LFGB, exported to the United States need to meet the FDA requirements. If you want to open up international markets, working with a supplier that has dual certification capabilities is a sure way to reduce risk and increase confidence in the marketplace.
Regardless of which market you are exporting to, Chances’ products can meet international safety certification requirements, and we can provide LFGB or FDA standard compliance certificates and third-party test reports, so that you can have peace of mind on your journey of cooperation.
Please feel free to contact us!
