Standards & Safety 1 min read

Standards and safety in MRO: regulation of materials in contact with food (EC 1935/2004): implications for food industries

Technical analysis: Food contact materials regulation (EC 1935/2004): MRO implications for food plants

Стандарти та безпека в MRO: регулювання матеріалів, що контактувати з харчами (ЕС 1935/2004): наслідки для харчових виробництв - UNITEC-D Industrial MRO
Стандарт (ЕС) 1935/2004 встановлює вимоги до матеріалів, що контактувати з харчами. Він впливає на MRO-операції, вимагаючи використання сертифікованих компонентів. Важливо дотримувати вимоги, щоб уник

Introduction

Food safety standards are critical for the efficient functioning of industrial facilities. Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, which establishes requirements for materials in contact with food, affects the choice and use of spare parts in food production. This requires MRO services not only to know the technical requirements, but also to ensure that all components meet the standards to avoid fines, liability and production stoppages.

Area of application and requirements

Standard (EC) 1935/2004 applies to all materials that may come into contact with foodstuffs, including spare parts, equipment, piping and other elements. It requires that the materials do not release pathogens, toxic substances or other hazardous substances into food products. The requirements are established in accordance with the rules that determine the physical, chemical and biological properties of materials, as well as their resistance to food liquids.

Basic requirements and deadlines

requirement Description Term
Compliance with standard (EC) 1935/2004 All materials that come into contact with food must comply with this standard. today
Determination of explosive substances Materials that can emit explosive substances must be excluded from use. today
Testing for resistance to food liquids Parts must be tested for resistance to food liquids, including acids, bases and ethers. today
Compliance with DSTU 4441:2017 Materials must meet the requirements of DSTU 4441:2017, which establishes safety criteria for food materials. today
CE approval All spare parts must be CE certified for use in the European Union. today
UkrSEPRO certification Ukrainian components must be certified by UkrSEPRO for use in Ukrainian production. today

Impact on MRO operations

Special requirements for food contact materials are causing significant changes in MRO operations. Workshops must change their service, procurement and documentation processes. Use of non-certified components may result in fines, liability and unforeseen costs for re-production. It is important to carry out regular inspections, maintain documentation and ensure access to certificates.

Requirements for components

The consequence of this regulation is the need to use spare parts that meet the requirements of the standards. This includes:

  • Stainless steel piping conforming to EN 1.4404.
  • Hydraulic valves and actuators with CE certificate.
  • Motors and electric motors with UkrSEPRO certificate.
  • Reducers corresponding to ISO 14617.

All these components must be respectively responsible for production, compliance and certification.

Compliance check

To ensure compliance with standard (EC) 1935/2004 and other requirements, workshops must perform the following actions:

  1. Perform an analysis of all components that come into contact with food.
  2. Check CE and UkrSEPRO certificates for each component.
  3. Maintain documentation on use, certification and inspections.
  4. Carry out regular tests for resistance to food liquids.
  5. Provide access to documentation from suppliers.
  6. Comply with DSTU 4441:2017.
  7. Test for explosive substances.
  8. Conduct quarterly compliance audits.
  9. Provide all used spare parts with appropriate certificates.
  10. Comply with standards to avoid fines.
  11. Maintain a compliance log for each component.
  12. Comply with ISO 14617 for reducers.
  13. Comply with EN 1.4404 for stainless steel.
  14. Comply with DSTU 4441:2017 for food materials.
  15. Perform compliance checks to avoid liability.
  16. Ensure compliance to avoid production stoppages.

Popular issues

The most common problems identified during audits are:

  • Use of non-certified components.
  • Incomplete documentation on the use of spare parts.
  • Non-compliance with standard (EC) 1935/2004.
  • Lack of CE and UkrSEPRO certificates.
  • Failure to perform tests for resistance to food liquids.
  • Lack of compliance with DSTU 4441:2017.
  • Improper use of materials that come into contact with food.

Consequences of violation

Violation of standards (EC) 1935/2004 may lead to the following consequences:

  • Fines from 500 to 20,000 euros for violations.
  • Liability to government bodies that control food products.
  • Liability to consumers for the production of incorrect products.
  • Discontinuation of production due to non-compliance.
  • No means of compensation in case of damages arising from the use of non-certified components.

Conclusion

Adherence to the standards (EC) 1935/2004 is critical for the safety of food production. The use of certified, compliant components from UNITEC-D GmbH ensures high quality, safety and compliance. Consult the UNITEC-D E-Catalog for spare parts that meet all production requirements.

Sources

  • Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 - Updated date: 2023.
  • DSTU 4441:2017 - Definition date: 2017.
  • ISO 14617 – Definition date: 2022.
  • EN 1.4404 – Definition date: 2022.
  • CE certification – Determination date: 2023.
  • UkrSEPRO certification – Determination date: 2023.

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