Migration Testing
Measure what actually transfers from packaging, utensils and processing equipment into food during contact, against FSSAI and BIS migration limits.
What is migration testing?
Migration testing measures whether chemical substances transfer from packaging, utensils or processing equipment into the food that contacts them. Plastic packaging, metal cans, ceramic ware and processing equipment all touch your food directly. Under heat, acidity or time, chemicals from those materials can leach into the product itself. A compliant recipe means nothing if the pack it ships in is the contamination source.
Equinox Labs tests food contact materials against food simulants at NABL-accredited laboratories, quantifying overall and specific migration so your packaging and equipment are proven safe under real use conditions, not assumed to be. It's frequently paired with our cosmetic testing and food safety testing services.
Why does unverified packaging put your product at risk?
Four consequences of a food contact material that hasn't been tested.
- Hidden chemical transfer. Plasticizers and heavy metals can leach into food without changing its taste, smell or appearance.
- Regulatory non-compliance. Untested packaging can breach FSSAI, BIS and international food contact regulations without you knowing until an audit finds it.
- Undermined shelf-life claims. Migration behaviour changes over time, so an untested pack weakens confidence in your printed shelf-life date.
- Blocked export shipments. FDA and EU migration limits can be stricter than domestic norms, and non-compliant packaging can hold a shipment at the border.
Which materials does migration testing cover?
From flexible plastic packs to metal cookware and processing lines.
Plastic & Polymer Packaging
Overall and specific migration testing for pouches, bottles, films and containers.
Metal & Ceramic Contact Ware
Heavy-metal leaching checks for cans, cookware, crockery and cutlery.
Overall & Specific Migration Limits
Quantifies total transferred mass and individual regulated substances against OML/SML.
Heavy Metal Leaching Analysis
Lead, cadmium and other trace-metal migration under simulated use conditions.
Silicone, Gaskets & Industrial Belts
Migration testing for silicone bakeware, conveyor belts, gaskets and lubricants that touch food in-line.
Paperboard & Multilayer Containers
Migration checks for coated paperboard, laminate pouches and multilayer packaging structures.
What does the test screen for?
The full panel used to clear packaging and contact equipment for food use.
Plastic Packaging
Metal & Ceramic Ware
Simulant-Based Testing
Regulatory Limits
Who needs migration testing?
From packaging manufacturers to processors and export-bound brands.
Packaging Manufacturers
Prove new pack formats and materials are safe for direct food contact.
Food Processors & Manufacturers
Validate plastic, metal and silicone equipment used across production lines.
Exporters
Meet domestic FSSAI/BIS limits alongside FDA and EU migration standards.
Institutional Kitchens
Verification of chopping boards, utensils and serving ware used in high-volume food prep.
Pre-Packaged Meal Producers
Clearance testing for the trays, films and containers used in ready-to-eat meal packs.
Food Equipment Manufacturers
Clearance testing for gaskets, belts and lubricants used in processing machinery.
Sample to certified report, in four steps
The same process across every migration testing engagement.
Inquire
Tell us the packaging or contact material you need cleared.
Sample Collection
Send in packaging, utensil or equipment samples for testing.
Simulant Migration Testing
Samples are tested against food simulants using GC-MS and ICP-MS methods.
Results & Support
We email your certified report and advise on any material changes needed.
Migration data precise enough to clear an audit
Accredited simulant testing and fluency in FSSAI and BIS migration limits.
NABL Accredited
ISO/IEC 17025 accredited migration testing that regulators and retailers trust.
FSSAI & BIS Standard Fluency
Familiar with overall and specific migration limits across material types.
Pan-India Reach
Sample logistics and testing coverage across 500+ cities, trusted by 5,000+ brands.
A Dedicated Account Manager
One point of contact for recurring material and packaging clearance.
Migration Testing FAQs
Migration testing measures whether chemical substances transfer, or migrate, from packaging, utensils or processing equipment into the food that contacts them, under real or simulated use conditions, then checks the result against FSSAI, BIS and other regulatory migration limits.
Plastic and polymer packaging, metal cans and cookware, ceramic ware, silicone and rubber components, paperboard and multilayer containers, and food preparation utensils such as chopping boards, knives and whisks.
Overall migration measures the total mass of all substances transferred into the food simulant. Specific migration quantifies individual regulated substances, such as a particular plasticizer or heavy metal, against their own limit.
We test against standardised food simulants (aqueous, acidic and fatty) that represent the range of foods a material is likely to contact, giving consistent, comparable results.
We benchmark against FSSAI regulations and BIS standards as a baseline, and can additionally test against FDA food contact migration standards and other international food contact regulations for export-bound products.
Food manufacturing businesses, packaging material suppliers, institutional kitchens, pre-packaged meal producers and food equipment manufacturers.
Yes. Accurate migration data is one of the inputs that supports a reliable shelf-life prediction, alongside our dedicated shelf-life analysis testing.
Get your Migration Testing enquiry answered
Tell us a little about your requirement and our team will get back to you within one working day.
- Response within one working day
- PAN-India service network
- Dedicated account manager
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