Food Contact Materials Testing Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, & Forecast Segmented By Type (Migration Testing, Non-Intentionally Added Substances Testing, Others), By Application (Food Packaging Material, Food Processing Equipment, Others), By Region, Competition, 2020-2030F

Market Overview

The Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market, valued at USD 5.60 Billion in 2024, is projected to experience a CAGR of 6.80% to reach USD 8.31 Billion by 2030. Food Contact Materials (FCM) testing evaluates substances and articles intended for direct contact with food, ensuring they do not transfer harmful chemical constituents or undesirably alter food composition, taste, or odor. The market's expansion is fundamentally driven by increasingly rigorous global food safety regulations and heightened consumer awareness regarding potential health risks associated with food packaging materials. The continuous growth of the global packaged food industry further underpins demand for these testing services; according to the Flexible Packaging Association, the U. S. flexible packaging industry generated an estimated $42.9 billion in annual sales in 2023, highlighting the extensive material volume requiring compliance assessments.

Additionally, the development of novel packaging innovations and the globalization of food supply chains contribute to the necessity for robust testing protocols. However, a notable challenge impeding market expansion is the persistent complexity and lack of complete harmonization among international regulatory frameworks. This fragmented regulatory landscape can create substantial compliance hurdles and elevate operational costs for manufacturers operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Key Market Drivers

The Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market is predominantly influenced by Stringent Global Food Safety Regulations and Heightened Consumer Awareness of Food Contact Material Safety. Regulatory bodies worldwide consistently introduce and update legislation to mitigate risks associated with chemical migration from packaging into food products, directly compelling manufacturers to adopt more rigorous testing protocols. For instance, the European Union's comprehensive legislative framework for food contact materials, including recent updates to address specific substances, necessitates robust compliance verification across the supply chain. According to SGS, in May 2025, its "European Commission Issues 2024 Report on Food Contact Material Notifications" article stated that 70% of the food contact material notifications received through the Alert and Cooperation Network involved potential health risks, underscoring the persistent challenges and the critical role of testing in preventing public health incidents. Concurrently, increased public scrutiny and demand for transparency regarding food packaging composition drive market expansion. Consumers are more informed about potential contaminants and their health implications, prompting brands to proactively demonstrate product safety through certified testing. According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, in October 2024, its "BfR-Verbrauchermonitor 08 | 2024" survey revealed that 68% of German consumers rated "microplastics in foods" as very concerning, highlighting a significant and growing apprehension among the populace regarding packaging derived substances. This dual pressure from regulatory bodies and informed consumers ensures a continuous and expanding requirement for advanced food contact materials testing services.

Further reflecting the critical need for meticulous testing across the food industry, operational oversights continue to necessitate extensive product recalls. According to Domino Printing, in June 2024, its "Are you ready for the Food Safety Modernization Act 204? " article reported that in January 2024 alone, the FDA issued 19 recalls for food products in the US, with 18 of these attributable to undeclared allergens due to labeling mistakes. These incidents underscore the broader market imperative for robust quality control and testing, encompassing not only packaging materials but also overall product integrity and labeling accuracy to safeguard public health and maintain consumer trust.

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Key Market Challenges

The persistent complexity and lack of complete harmonization among international regulatory frameworks pose a significant challenge to the Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market. Manufacturers operating across various jurisdictions must navigate diverse and often conflicting standards for materials in direct contact with food. This fragmented landscape creates substantial compliance hurdles, increasing the complexity and resource allocation needed for product development and market access.

This directly impedes market expansion by escalating operational costs for manufacturers, potentially hindering innovation and geographical reach. According to Packaging Europe, in 2024, over 60% of brands identified regulatory compliance as their top challenge in packaging innovation. Such a burden can discourage new product introductions or market diversification, consequently limiting the demand for comprehensive testing services. Additionally, testing laboratories face increased overheads in maintaining expertise across numerous, disparate regulatory requirements, which can translate into higher service costs and slower overall market development.

Key Market Trends

Two significant trends shaping the Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market are the increased focus on microplastics and PFAS contamination and the growth in sustainable packaging materials testing. These distinct developments drive new testing requirements and methodologies.

The increased focus on microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination represents a critical evolution in food contact materials testing, addressing emerging environmental pollutants. Regulators and consumers are intensifying scrutiny on these persistent substances, necessitating advanced detection capabilities. The Flexible Packaging Association's 2024 review, for instance, indicated significant legislative activity, tracking over 490 bills that could impact its members, specifically mentioning those addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance restrictions. This extensive regulatory pressure directly compels manufacturers to implement more rigorous testing protocols. According to a June 2025 study published in npj Science of Food, co-authored by the Food Packaging Forum, 96% of 103 evaluated studies reported the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in foodstuffs or simulants after contact with plastic articles. This highlights the pervasive nature of these contaminants and the urgent need for comprehensive testing solutions.

The market is also witnessing substantial growth in the testing of sustainable packaging materials. As industries prioritize circular economy models and reduce environmental footprints, the adoption of novel bio-based, recycled, and biodegradable materials for food contact applications is accelerating. This shift mandates extensive testing to ensure these new materials uphold stringent food safety standards, prevent unwanted migration of constituents, and verify their claimed environmental attributes. The Flexible Packaging Association, in its 2024 "Report to the Members," underscored the industry's strategic emphasis on sustainable packaging solutions, advocating for flexible packaging as a material requiring less energy and resources. This commitment by industrial associations reflects the growing market imperative for relevant testing. Mondi, a global leader in packaging and paper, developed a more sustainable banana box using approximately 40% recycled fiber, successfully validating its performance in real-life conditions during a 33-day transatlantic shipment in summer 2024. Such innovations require thorough testing to ensure compliance and product integrity.

Segmental Insights

The Food Packaging Material segment is rapidly expanding within the Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market, primarily driven by evolving regulatory landscapes and heightened consumer vigilance regarding food safety. Governments and regulatory bodies globally, such as the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European authorities, are implementing increasingly stringent standards to limit the migration of potentially harmful substances from packaging into food products. This intensified regulatory scrutiny, coupled with growing consumer awareness of potential health risks associated with food contact materials, compels manufacturers to invest significantly in comprehensive testing and compliance. The increasing demand for processed and packaged foods, alongside the expansion of e-commerce, further necessitates robust testing to ensure product integrity and safety across complex supply chains.

Regional Insights

North America leads the global Food Contact Materials Testing Market, driven by its well-established and stringent regulatory environment. Regulatory bodies such as the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada enforce comprehensive safety standards, including Title 21 of the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR), which mandates extensive testing for substances in contact with food. This emphasis on food safety and product compliance, coupled with high consumer awareness regarding potential health hazards from food contact materials, compels manufacturers to invest significantly in testing and verification services. Furthermore, the region's robust food and beverage industry, characterized by continuous innovation in packaging materials, necessitates rigorous testing protocols to meet evolving demands and ensure public health.

Recent Developments

• In September 2025, NSF, a global public health and safety organization, released its new protocol, NSF P525: Safe Food Packaging. This protocol is a significant development to address concerns regarding food contact chemicals, many of which can pose health risks. NSF P525 provides certification for single-use, primary, and secondary packaging intended for contact with food and beverages. The certification process involves material migration testing and verifies the absence of specific chemicals of concern, offering enhanced assurance of safety for food contact materials.

• In May 2025, SGS announced the launch of a new regulatory support service designed to assist manufacturers of substances used in food contact materials. This service aims to streamline the complex regulatory authorization process for North American markets, including both the U.S. Food Contact Notification (FCN) route and obtaining voluntary Letters of No Objection (LONO) from Health Canada. The comprehensive solution integrates expert preparation of regulatory submission dossiers with advanced migration testing expertise, offering end-to-end support for faster approval pathways in the global food contact materials testing market.

• In October 2024, Mérieux NutriSciences entered into an agreement to acquire the global food testing business of Bureau Veritas for an enterprise value of EUR 360 million. This strategic collaboration significantly reinforces Mérieux NutriSciences' position as a global leader in food testing, inspection, and certification (TIC). The acquisition covers Bureau Veritas' food laboratory testing activities, including microbiological and chemical analysis, and molecular testing across 34 laboratories in 15 countries. This expansion enhances Mérieux NutriSciences' geographic footprint and its comprehensive services related to food contact materials testing.

• In May 2024, SGS highlighted the announcement of new mandatory national standards in China for food contact materials, specifically for adhesives (GB 4806.15-2024) and solvent residues (GB 31604.60-2024). These standards, which became effective in February 2025, represent China's first-time introduction of specific requirements for adhesives used in food contact applications. This development necessitates that companies in the global food contact materials testing market, like SGS, provide updated guidance and specialized testing services to ensure manufacturers meet these evolving regulatory compliance obligations.

Key Market Players

• Eurofins Scientific Inc
• Intertek International Inc
• CIRS Group
• NTEK Co. Ltd.
• Fera Science Limited
• TUV Rheinland Group
• Bureau Veritas SA

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Food Contact Materials Testing Market, By Type:

o   Migration Testing

o   Non-Intentionally Added Substances Testing

o   Others

• Food Contact Materials Testing Market, By Application:

o   Food Packaging Material

o   Food Processing Equipment

o   Others

• Food Contact Materials Testing Market, By Region:

o   North America

§  United States

§  Canada

§  Mexico

o   Europe

§  France

§  United Kingdom

§  Italy

§  Germany

§  Spain

o   Asia Pacific

§  China

§  India

§  Japan

§  Australia

§  South Korea

o   South America

§  Brazil

§  Argentina

§  Colombia

o   Middle East & Africa

§  South Africa

§  Saudi Arabia

§  UAE

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies presents in the Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market.

Available Customizations:

Global Food Contact Materials Testing Market report with the given market data, TechSci Research offers customizations according to a company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

Company Information

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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