Food contact suitability

Paper and board that touches food is regulated as a food-contact material. In the EU, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 is the framework: materials must not transfer constituents to food in quantities that could endanger health or change the food unacceptably. Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 sets good manufacturing practice. There is no harmonised EU measure specific to paper and board, so national rules and recommendations – most widely the German BfR Recommendation XXXVI – are used in practice. In the United States, 21 CFR 176.170 covers components of paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods.

Each grade in this database carries one of three marks. Yes means the grade is normally made from virgin fibre and supplied with a mill declaration of compliance. Conditional means suitability depends on the specific grade, coating, barrier or end use. No means the grade is not intended for direct food contact – for example recycled fibre without a functional barrier, non-food chemistry, or a product that is never declared for food use.

These marks are a desk assessment by grade type, not a certificate. Suitability always follows the mill's declaration of compliance and the finished article.

Yes Approvable for direct food contact 49 grades

Approvable for direct food contact
Grade	Family	Codes	Grammage	Food contact
Kitchen / Household Towel	Tissue & Hygiene		20–45 g/m²	Yes
Napkin / Serviette	Tissue & Hygiene		17–24 g/m²	Yes
Kraftliner (brown)	Containerboard	KL, KLB, CEPI 00	110–440 g/m²	Yes
White Top Kraftliner	Containerboard	WTKL, CEPI 04	125–250 g/m²	Yes
Fully White Kraftliner	Containerboard	CEPI 02/03	150–250 g/m²	Yes
Mottled / White Mottled Kraftliner	Containerboard	CEPI 06	125–200 g/m²	Yes
Wet Strength Kraftliner	Containerboard	CEPI 09	125–250 g/m²	Yes
Solid Bleached Board / Sulphate	Cartonboard / Boxboard	SBB, SBS, GZ, UZ	180–450 g/m²	Yes
Folding Boxboard - fully coated	Cartonboard / Boxboard	FBB, GC1	200–450 g/m²	Yes
Folding Boxboard - coated top	Cartonboard / Boxboard	FBB, GC2	160–450 g/m²	Yes
Solid Unbleached Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard	SUB, SUS, CUK, CNK, GN1	200–450 g/m²	Yes
Cup Stock / Cup Carton	Cartonboard / Boxboard	PE cupstock, PLA cupstock, SBS cup	170–400 g/m²	Yes
Plate & Tray Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard		250–450 g/m²	Yes
Liquid Packaging Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard	LPB	190–400 g/m²	Yes
Sack Kraft (unbleached)	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	SK, sack paper	70–120 g/m²	Yes
Extensible / Clupak Sack Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	XK, Clupak, MF extensible	70–120 g/m²	Yes
Bleached Sack Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		70–120 g/m²	Yes
Machine Glazed Kraft (unbleached)	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	MG kraft, MG	20–120 g/m²	Yes
Bleached MG Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	White MG	20–120 g/m²	Yes
Machine Finished Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	MF kraft, MF	60–150 g/m²	Yes
Ribbed Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		70–120 g/m²	Yes
Wet Strength Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	WS kraft	60–150 g/m²	Yes
Grocery / SOS Bag Paper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		60–100 g/m²	Yes
Semi-Extensible Sack Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		70–100 g/m²	Yes
Twisting Paper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		25–70 g/m²	Yes
Greaseproof Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier	GP, MG greaseproof	30–90 g/m²	Yes
Glassine	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		20–150 g/m²	Yes
Vegetable Parchment	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier	VP	30–150 g/m²	Yes
Baking Paper (siliconised)	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		35–60 g/m²	Yes
Sandwich / Burger Wrap	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		25–50 g/m²	Yes
Butter / Cheese Wrap	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		35–60 g/m²	Yes
Sugar / Flour Bag Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		60–100 g/m²	Yes
Barrier Paper (dispersion coated)	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		40–150 g/m²	Yes
PE / PLA Extrusion Coated Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		40–300 g/m²	Yes
Wax / Paraffin Coated Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		40–120 g/m²	Yes
Aluminium Laminate Base Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		30–80 g/m²	Yes
Coffee Filter Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		30–100 g/m²	Yes
Tea Bag Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		12–25 g/m²	Yes
Baking Cup / Muffin Cup Base	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		35–60 g/m²	Yes
Freezer Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		40–70 g/m²	Yes
Patty / Food Interleaving Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		25–45 g/m²	Yes
Fruit & Produce Wrapping Tissue	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		17–30 g/m²	Yes
Candy Twist Wrap	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		30–50 g/m²	Yes
Grease-Resistant Bag Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier	GRS bag paper	35–70 g/m²	Yes
Bakery Bag Paper (window bags)	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		35–60 g/m²	Yes
Paper Straw Base	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		60–120 g/m²	Yes
Susceptor / Microwave Base Paper	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		35–60 g/m²	Yes
Fibrous Sausage Casing Base	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		17–28 g/m²	Yes
Flexible Packaging Paper (MG)	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		30–90 g/m²	Yes

Conditional Conditional 26 grades

Conditional
Grade	Family	Codes	Grammage	Food contact
TAD / Structured Tissue	Tissue & Hygiene	TAD, UCTAD, NTT	18–40 g/m²	Conditional
Airlaid Paper	Tissue & Hygiene		40–300 g/m²	Conditional
Fluff Pulp (Absorbent Core)	Tissue & Hygiene		400–900 g/m²	Conditional
Offset	Woodfree Uncoated		50–150 g/m²	Conditional
Cover / Bristol Board	Woodfree Uncoated		150–400 g/m²	Conditional
Coated One Side	Woodfree Coated	C1S	60–150 g/m²	Conditional
Cast Coated Paper / Board	Woodfree Coated	CCP, Chromolux	80–400 g/m²	Conditional
Coated White Top Kraftliner	Containerboard	CWTKL, CEPI 05	140–260 g/m²	Conditional
Kraft Top Liner	Containerboard	KTL, CEPI 90/91	100–200 g/m²	Conditional
Semichemical Fluting	Containerboard	SC fluting, NSSC, CEPI 40/46	100–200 g/m²	Conditional
Barrier-Coated Containerboard	Containerboard		110–250 g/m²	Conditional
White Lined Chipboard	Cartonboard / Boxboard	WLC, GD1/GD2/GD3, duplex	200–600 g/m²	Conditional
White Lined Chipboard - kraft back	Cartonboard / Boxboard	GT1-GT4, triplex	200–600 g/m²	Conditional
Unglazed Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers	UG kraft, UG, MB	60–200 g/m²	Conditional
Crepe Kraft / Creped Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		50–120 g/m²	Conditional
Shopping / Carrier Bag Paper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		70–130 g/m²	Conditional
Interleaving / Slip Sheet Paper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		30–120 g/m²	Conditional
Tissue Wrapping / MG Tissue	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		17–30 g/m²	Conditional
Laminating / Coating Base Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		40–120 g/m²	Conditional
Moulded Fibre / Pulp Packaging	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier	MFP	200–1,500 g/m²	Conditional
Imitation Greaseproof	Food-Contact, Greaseproof & Barrier		30–60 g/m²	Conditional
Wet-Glue Label Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging	WS label, wet strength label	60–100 g/m²	Conditional
Self-Adhesive Facestock	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging	PSA facestock	60–100 g/m²	Conditional
Thermal Base Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		45–90 g/m²	Conditional
Metallised Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		50–100 g/m²	Conditional
In-Mould Label Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging	IML	60–100 g/m²	Conditional

No Not for direct food contact 83 grades

Not for direct food contact
Grade	Family	Codes	Grammage	Food contact
Facial Tissue	Tissue & Hygiene		12–16 g/m²	No
Toilet / Bath Tissue	Tissue & Hygiene		15–35 g/m²	No
Hand Towel (AfH)	Tissue & Hygiene		30–45 g/m²	No
Industrial Wiper	Tissue & Hygiene		40–80 g/m²	No
Crepe Wadding / Medical Crepe	Tissue & Hygiene		17–30 g/m²	No
Sterilisation Wrap (Medical Crepe Paper)	Tissue & Hygiene		55–75 g/m²	No
Sterilisation Pouch Paper (medical MG)	Tissue & Hygiene		40–80 g/m²	No
Standard Newsprint	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	SNP, STD News	40–55 g/m²	No
Improved Newsprint	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	INP	45–65 g/m²	No
Coloured Newsprint	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing		42–52 g/m²	No
Directory Paper	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing		26–45 g/m²	No
Supercalendered A	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	SC-A, SC-A+	50–65 g/m²	No
Supercalendered B/C	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	SC-B, SC-C	45–60 g/m²	No
MF Special / Improved Mechanical	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	MFS, IMP	50–80 g/m²	No
Bulky Book Paper (mechanical)	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing		50–100 g/m²	No
Machine Finished Coated	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	MFC	48–90 g/m²	No
Light Weight Coated	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	LWC	39–72 g/m²	No
Medium Weight Coated	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	MWC	70–100 g/m²	No
High Weight Coated	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	HWC	100–135 g/m²	No
Ultra Light Weight Coated	Newsprint & Mechanical Printing	ULWC	33–40 g/m²	No
Woodfree Uncoated Copy Paper	Woodfree Uncoated	WFU, UWF, A4 cutsize	70–100 g/m²	No
Bond	Woodfree Uncoated		60–120 g/m²	No
Book / Novel Paper (woodfree bulky)	Woodfree Uncoated		55–100 g/m²	No
Lightweight Opaque / Bible Paper	Woodfree Uncoated	LWO, India paper	22–45 g/m²	No
Carbonless Paper (NCR)	Woodfree Uncoated	CB, CFB, CF	50–80 g/m²	No
Continuous / Listing Paper	Woodfree Uncoated		55–80 g/m²	No
Writing / Letterhead Paper	Woodfree Uncoated		80–120 g/m²	No
Coloured Woodfree Paper	Woodfree Uncoated		80–160 g/m²	No
Recycled Woodfree Uncoated	Woodfree Uncoated		70–120 g/m²	No
Digital / Inkjet Uncoated	Woodfree Uncoated		70–250 g/m²	No
Glossy Coated / Art Paper	Woodfree Coated	WFC, C2S, gloss art	80–300 g/m²	No
Matt / Silk Coated Woodfree	Woodfree Coated	WFC matt, silk	90–350 g/m²	No
Digital Coated Paper	Woodfree Coated		90–350 g/m²	No
Photo Base / Photographic Paper Base	Woodfree Coated	RC base	150–260 g/m²	No
Testliner 1	Containerboard	TL1, CEPI 10-12	100–200 g/m²	No
Testliner 2	Containerboard	TL2, CEPI 20-22	90–200 g/m²	No
Testliner 3	Containerboard	TL3, CEPI 30-32	80–200 g/m²	No
Testliner 4	Containerboard	TL4, CEPI 38	70–160 g/m²	No
White Top Testliner	Containerboard	WTTL, CEPI 70-72	110–200 g/m²	No
Coated White Top Testliner	Containerboard	CWTTL, CEPI 77	120–200 g/m²	No
Schrenz	Containerboard	CEPI 53	80–200 g/m²	No
Recycled Fluting (Wellenstoff)	Containerboard	WS, Medium, CEPI 41-45	90–200 g/m²	No
Light Weight Medium	Containerboard	LWM, CEPI 60	70–100 g/m²	No
Dual Purpose Paper	Containerboard	DPP, CEPI 52	100–180 g/m²	No
Uncoated Recycled Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard	UD1-UD3, UT	200–600 g/m²	No
Greyboard / Chipboard (solid)	Cartonboard / Boxboard	GRB	300–3,000 g/m²	No
Core Board / Tube Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard		200–1,200 g/m²	No
Gypsum / Plasterboard Liner	Cartonboard / Boxboard		180–350 g/m²	No
Binder / Index / Tag Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard		150–500 g/m²	No
Graphic / Display Board	Cartonboard / Boxboard		200–600 g/m²	No
Packing / Wrapping Paper (recycled)	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		50–120 g/m²	No
Absorbent / Saturating Kraft	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		100–450 g/m²	No
Reel Wrap / Mill Wrapper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		120–250 g/m²	No
Honeycomb / Core Paper (packaging)	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		80–160 g/m²	No
Anti-Slip / Layer Pad Paper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		70–140 g/m²	No
Gift Wrap Base Paper	Sack, Wrapping & Kraft Papers		50–80 g/m²	No
Glassine Release Liner	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		50–80 g/m²	No
Clay Coated Kraft Liner	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging	CCK	80–160 g/m²	No
Poly Coated Kraft Liner	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging	PCK, PEK	90–180 g/m²	No
Envelope Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		70–120 g/m²	No
Paper Mailer / E-commerce Bag Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		80–140 g/m²	No
Gummed / Kraft Tape Base Paper	Label, Release & Flexible Packaging		60–130 g/m²	No
Laboratory Filter Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		40–200 g/m²	No
Automotive / Industrial Filter Media	Industrial & Technical Speciality		60–250 g/m²	No
Electrical Insulating Kraft	Industrial & Technical Speciality	Transformer kraft	30–200 g/m²	No
Capacitor Tissue	Industrial & Technical Speciality		5–30 g/m²	No
Crepe / Cable Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		20–120 g/m²	No
Decor Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		30–150 g/m²	No
Kraft Impregnating Base (laminate core)	Industrial & Technical Speciality		80–300 g/m²	No
Overlay Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		18–45 g/m²	No
Wallpaper Base	Industrial & Technical Speciality		90–180 g/m²	No
Abrasive Base Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		70–300 g/m²	No
Cigarette Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		18–30 g/m²	No
Tipping / Plug Wrap Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		24–45 g/m²	No
Banknote & Security Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		70–120 g/m²	No
Cheque / Voucher Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		80–120 g/m²	No
Blotting Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		100–300 g/m²	No
Wick / Diffuser Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		60–200 g/m²	No
Seed / Grass Paper & Plantable Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		100–250 g/m²	No
Vulcanised Fibre	Industrial & Technical Speciality		400–3,000 g/m²	No
Synthetic / Stone Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		100–400 g/m²	No
Anti-Tarnish / VCI Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality	VCI	50–120 g/m²	No
Archival / Acid-Free Paper	Industrial & Technical Speciality		60–300 g/m²	No