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FDA vs LFGB: which one does your market actually want?

They are not two versions of the same certificate. One tests the material, the other tests what the material does to food. · By the Chufei sourcing team · Updated 2026-10-17

Quality inspection of stainless steel kitchenware at the Chufei workshop
In this guide
  1. The short version
  2. What is actually tested
  3. Which market needs which
  4. How to read a supplier's test report
  5. Where certification meets product design

The short version

FDA (US) regulates food-contact materials mainly through composition rules — which substances are permitted and in what proportions. LFGB (Germany, widely accepted across the EU) goes further and tests migration: what actually moves from the product into food under realistic conditions.

That is why LFGB is generally considered the stricter standard and why buyers who sell in both markets often hold an LFGB report and use it everywhere.

What is actually tested

FDALFGB
Core approachComposition / permitted substancesComposition + migration testing
Typical testsMaterial composition, extractablesOverall migration, specific migration of heavy metals, sensory (taste/odour)
Geographic useUnited StatesGermany and broadly accepted across the EU
Perceived strictnessBaseline for US importGenerally stricter, often accepted as evidence elsewhere

Which market needs which

North America: FDA compliance is the baseline buyers ask for. Europe: LFGB is the reference point most distributors request. Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the Middle East each have their own frameworks, but in practice a current LFGB report plus a material declaration satisfies most importers. We supply FDA and LFGB documentation for our food-contact ranges.

How to read a supplier's test report

  • Check the date. Reports are a snapshot of a batch, not a permanent licence. Ask when it was issued.
  • Check the lab. A named third-party laboratory carries weight; an internal sheet does not.
  • Check the scope. The report must cover the same material and, ideally, the same product form — a report on stainless sheet is weaker than one on the finished straw.
  • Check the conditions. Migration results depend on temperature, contact time and the simulant used. A 40 °C result does not cover hot-fill use.
Practical tip: ask for the report before you pay the deposit, not after production. A supplier who cannot produce it quickly usually cannot produce it at all.

Where certification meets product design

Certification is easier when the design cooperates. Single-material products — an all-304 straw, a solid steel serving spoon — are straightforward. Mixed-material products, like bamboo-handle cutlery with a stainless head, need the adhesive and the coating considered as well as the steel. Ask which component was tested, not just which certificate exists.

Common questions

Is LFGB accepted outside Europe?

In practice yes. Many importers in the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Japan accept a current LFGB report as strong evidence, alongside local requirements. It is not a legal substitute everywhere, but it is the most widely recognised document you can hold.

Do I need both FDA and LFGB?

If you sell into both the US and the EU, yes — they are separate frameworks. Most exporters hold LFGB because it is stricter, plus FDA documentation for the US market specifically.

How long is a test report valid?

There is no universal expiry, but most buyers and marketplaces treat reports older than two years as stale, and any change in material, coating or supplier should trigger a new test.

Where to go next

Need numbers for your own order?

Send us the product, quantity and your market — we reply within 24 hours with pricing, sampling options and a realistic production schedule.

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