Short answer: two reports come up again and again for baby silicone bound for the EU — LFGB and EN 14350 — but they cover different things. LFGB governs the material (may it contact food?), while EN 14350 governs the product (construction, mechanical safety and hygiene requirements for infants’ drinking equipment). Teethers that never touch drinking water typically run on LFGB plus EN 71-3; the moment a sippy cup or bottle accessory is involved, EN 14350 comes into play.
What LFGB tests: may the material contact food
LFGB (the German Food, Consumer Goods and Feed Code) is among the most frequently cited food-contact standards in the EU. For silicone rubber, typical test items include:
- Sensory test: detectable odour and taste transfer
- Overall migration: total migration into food simulants under specified media and temperatures
- Specific migration: heavy metals, organotin compounds and similar
- Volatile organics: the critical item for silicone systems, tied directly to residual small molecules
- Formulation-level compliance: masterbatches, catalysts and fillers must sit on the permitted lists
What EN 14350 tests: construction and safety of drinking equipment
EN 14350 is the European standard for drinking equipment for infants and young children. It has two parts — materials/chemical requirements and mechanical/physical requirements. For silicone components, the points most often examined are:
- Tensile strength and elongation at break: spouts and valves must not tear apart easily — this ties directly to small-part choking risk
- Tear resistance: integrity after repeated chewing and washing
- Heat and sterilization resistance: dimensional and performance change after steam or boiling-water sterilization
- Chemical migration: overlaps with LFGB but uses its own limits — each must be checked against its own table
- Markings and warnings: age grading, cleaning instructions and labelling requirements
Beyond the two main lines: what else the EU looks at
| Item | What it governs | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| REACH SVHC | Whether substances of very high concern exceed limits | All products entering the EU |
| POPs Regulation | Persistent organic pollutants | All products |
| EN 71-3 | Migration from toy materials (commonly applied to mouth-contact teethers) | Teethers and chew items classified as toys |
| Framework Regulation 1935/2004 + GMP 2023/2006 | Material inertness, traceability and good manufacturing practice | All food-contact items |
In practice: four stages from compound to report
- Material selection: lock a food-contact grade and include masterbatch and release agents in the compliance list — fail any one of the three and the rest is wasted
- Moulding: control the cure system and post-curing conditions; volatile matter is tied directly to process
- Testing: decide what is being tested — raw material or finished part. EU buyers usually want finished-part reports, and material reports do not substitute
- Documentation: file report numbers, batch records and formulation declarations by batch for later audits
FAQ
We already have an LFGB report — do we still need EN 14350?
For drinking items, yes. They complement rather than substitute: LFGB shows the material does not migrate harmful substances into food, while EN 14350 additionally covers structural strength, tear resistance and labelling. Shipping on LFGB alone is the classic route to a rejection on mechanical performance or labelling.
How long does a test report stay valid?
A report covers the samples submitted; there is no universal expiry. Common practice is to retest on a one-to-two-year cycle while material and process are unchanged, and to retest immediately after any change of compound grade, masterbatch or manufacturing site. Importers and platforms often add their own validity windows — follow their list at the time of order.
We can help assemble the test list for your target market. Our silicone raw materials carry SGS reports spanning 12 regulations (including LFGB, REACH SVHC, RoHS, POPs, PAHs and TSCA), with report numbers and PDFs verifiable on the compliance page; finished parts are tested separately against your EU buyer’s list. Contact us with your part drawings and we will align compliance from the material-selection step onward.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have LFGB — do we still need EN 14350?+
For infants’ drinking equipment (sippy cups, bottle accessories), yes. They complement each other: LFGB shows the material does not migrate harmful substances, while EN 14350 adds structural strength, tear resistance, sterilization resistance and labelling. Shipping on LFGB alone is the classic route to a rejection on mechanicals or labels.
Beyond LFGB and EN 14350, what else does the EU require for baby silicone?+
Three more lines in practice: REACH SVHC, the POPs Regulation, and EN 71-3 for teethers classified as toys. Food-contact items also fall under Framework Regulation 1935/2004 and GMP requirements. The actual list follows your importer and notified body.
How long does a test report stay valid?+
No universal period — a report covers the samples submitted. Common practice is a one-to-two-year retest cycle while material and process are unchanged, with immediate retesting after any change of grade, masterbatch or manufacturing site. Importers and platforms often add their own windows; follow their list at order time.