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What does OML (Overall Migration Limit) mean for food packaging?

The OML (Overall Migration Limit) limits the total amount of substances that may migrate from a plastic material into food or, during testing, into a food simulant.

Overall migration is a key requirement of Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. It is used to assess the inertness of the plastic material and considers the total amount of substances released, regardless of which individual substances are involved.

For plastic materials and articles, the overall migration limit is generally 10 mg/dm² of food contact surface area. Specific provisions apply to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food for infants and young children.

Compliance with the OML is assessed under standardised test conditions. Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 defines different Overall Migration Tests (OM) representing different foreseeable contact times and temperatures. The relevant test condition therefore depends on the intended use of the packaging.

Important: The OML assesses overall migration. For certain individual substances, additional Specific Migration Limits (SML) may apply. These limits restrict the permitted migration of a specific substance into food or a food simulant.

OML and SML therefore address different aspects of migration: the OML considers the total amount of migrating substances, whereas an SML limits the migration of a specific substance.

OML and SML – the difference at a glance

Overall migration and specific migration assess different aspects of migration from plastic materials intended for food contact.

Criterion OML (Overall Migration Limit) SML (Specific Migration Limit)
Definition Limit for the total amount of substances migrating from the plastic material. Limit for the migration of a specific substance into food or a food simulant.
Limit Generally 10 mg/dm² of food contact surface area. Specific provisions apply to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food for infants and young children. Substance-specific limit, where an SML has been established for the substance concerned.
What is assessed? The total release of substances from the plastic material under the specified test conditions. The migration of a specific substance under conditions relevant to the intended application.
Testing / verification Overall migration is determined under standardised test conditions representing different foreseeable contact times and temperatures. Depending on the substance and application, compliance with an SML may be assessed using appropriate testing, calculations or other permitted verification methods.
Legal basis Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Regulation (EU) No 10/2011; the applicable Specific Migration Limits are established for individual substances.
Purpose To limit the overall migration from the plastic material. To limit the migration of specific substances to the respective permitted level.

Important information

OML and SML assess different aspects of migration and should not be confused with each other. The OML considers overall migration, whereas an SML limits the migration of a specific substance.

Compliance with the applicable OML and SML requirements is an important part of the conformity assessment of plastic materials intended for food contact. The relevant testing and verification conditions depend on the material, the substances involved and the intended application.