Author: Magda
Statement from the Chairman of J.S. Hamilton Poland Jan Olszowski
Hamilton UO-Technologia laboratory with QS approval
We would like to inform you that as of 21 March 2025, the laboratory of Hamilton UO-Technologia Sp. z o.o. has been officially approved in the QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH system.
The QS system is one of the most recognised quality assurance systems in the food chain in Europe. The approval means that our testing processes meet the stringent quality requirements set out by QS, allowing us to carry out tests as part of the systematic monitoring of pesticide residues.
This important achievement not only confirms the high standards of our services, but also places us among only two laboratories in Poland with such approval for pesticide residue testing.
We would like to thank the laboratory team in Słomczyn and all those involved in this project for their professionalism, commitment and contribution to the development of our services.
You can read the full list of QS-approved laboratories here: QS Qualität und Sicherheit – List of laboratories.
If you are interested in cooperating or would like to find out more, please contact us via contact form.
Happy Easter!
On the occasion of Easter, we would like to extend our best wishes to all our customers and business partners. May this time be full of peace, joy and inspiration for new challenges!
New scope of accreditation in the Dermatology and Stability section!
A great success in the Dermatology and Stability section. We are the first laboratory in Poland to be accredited for dermatological testing!
The 3-day audit by the Polish Accreditation Centre was a complete success – no nonconformities were found!
We have completed the implementation project to extend the scope of AB 079 accreditation, which includes dermatological methods:
- PB-561 Presence of allergic reaction / contact eczema, in vivo skin irritation method, semi-open and closed test and
- PB-562 Presence of allergic reaction / contact eczema, in vivo skin irritation method, open test.
The accreditation audit was conducted at the Cosmetology Laboratory by an authorized auditor of the Polish Centre for Accreditation, confirming compliance with the requirements of the ISO 17025 standard and the high competence, reliability and impartiality of the JS Hamilton team.
Your products deserve the highest quality service!
If you have any questions or concerns, J.S. Hamilton Experts remain at your disposal.
J.S. Hamilton Poland awarded the Compass of Standardization!
We are very pleased to announce that on May 18, at a ceremony in Warsaw, our company was awarded the Compass of Standardization award granted by the Polish Committee for Standardization (PKN). We would like to thank Ms. Ewa Zielińska, President of the company, and the entire PKN for appreciating the role of J.S. Hamilton Poland in supporting the Polish standardization system.
The award was received on behalf of our company by Marcin Ficek, Member of the Management Board of J.S. Hamilton Poland, and Hanna Wachowska, Director of Scientific Support and Cooperation with Laboratories. The PKN “Compass of Standardization” award has been granted since 2015. Its purpose is to honor individuals and institutions in recognition of their achievements in supporting standardization, including: outstanding achievements and contributions to Polish standardization, promotion of the voluntary standardization system, significant contributions to promoting a pro-standardization attitude among the public, and exceptional activity in the standards development process.
The Polish Committee for Standardization (PKN) is a national standards body, which is responsible for organizing standardization activities. PKN is not a government administration body, it is a public law entity. It operates under the Standardization Act of September 12, 2002.
J.S. Hamilton Poland Sp. z o.o. has been actively involved in standardization activities for many years and has made a valuable contribution to standardization covering many branches of the economy. The company. has been very active and involved in the process of developing Polish Standards within the framework of standardization topics. Since 2013, PKN within the Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sector has signed contracts with J.S. Hamilton Poland Sp. z o.o. for the development of 32 Polish Standards in the form of standardization topics and one contract within the framework of custom work.
The reliability, stability and professional approach to the duties performed by J.S. Hamilton Poland Sp. z o.o. guarantee a high level of service performance. The long-standing experience and commitment to the development and promotion of standardization in so many areas is highly appreciated by the Polish Committee for Standardization.
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) on new hazard classes
The new COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/707 of 19 December 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as regards hazard classes and criteria for the classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures was published.
This regulation introduces new hazard classes for the following substances and mixtures:
- having endocrine disrupting (ED) for human health as well as environment,
- persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB),
- persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT), very persistent and very mobile (vPvM).
Definitions, classification criteria for substances and mixtures, and label elements were established.
This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
If you have any questions or concerns, the J.S. Hamilton Experts remain at your disposal.
Mineral oils – what do we know about the limits for the mineral oils in the EU?
MOSH/MOAH MINERAL OILS
Mineral oils are mixtures of liquid hydrocarbons containing MOAH extended aromatic rings and MOSH extended aliphatic and cyclic chains. The entire group can be called mineral oils hydrocarbons MOH. Mineral oils accumulate in many internal organs and can lead to damage to the liver, heart valve and lymph nodes. They are also suspected to be genotoxic carcinogens and therefore increase the risk of cancer. Over several years of MOH research they have been detected in many food products.
The first identified source of MOH food contamination was cardboard packaging printed with inks containing MOH. Likewise, oils and lubricants used in machinery may contain a fraction of MOAH. Other sources of contamination may include water used for agricultural watering and livestock watering contaminated with petroleum products. For now, cardboard packaging and cardboard liners containing recycled paper can still be a potential source of MOH. For this reason, regulatory enforcing measures for packaging are heading in this direction.
LIMITS AND RESTRICTIONS
The most popular document for paper and board packaging manufacturers regarding the content and migration of MOAH is the draft of the German Mineral Oil Ordinance dated 14.8.2020 announced by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). Previous drafts contained limits on the content of MOSH and MOAH, but this draft has not been taken forward because the MOH content in recycled paper products and corrugated board products has proved to be too high. In the next version of the project draft, limits on MOSH and MOAH migration were given. The most recent version refers only to the migration of MOAH with chain lengths C16-C35.
- 0.5 mg/kg in food
- 0.15 mg/kg in food simulant
At the same time the BFR XXXVI food paper requirements alone include a migration limit for paraffinic, naphthenic-type hydrocarbon solvents with chain lengths of C10 to C20 at:
- 12 mg/kg food for C10-C16
- 4 mg/kg food for C16-C20
On 13 April 2022 The French Ordinance was introduced defining the substances contained in mineral oils whose use is prohibited in packaging and printed material distributed to the public. The aim of this regulation is mainly to reduce the presence of MOH in paper and cardboard going to recycling and thus to improve the quality and increase the quantity of recycled materials. The regulation took effect from 1 January 2023.
While formally the limits apply to the content in inks used for printing packaging, also finished products can be tested implicitly.
- 1% MOSH C16 – C35
- 0.1% MOSH C16 – C35 from 01.01.2025
- 0.1% MOAH C1 – C7 aromatic ring numbers
- 1 mg/kg MOAH C3 – C7 aromatic ring numbers from 01.01.2025
In 2017 The European Commission (EC) adopted the EU Recommendation 2017/84 on the monitoring of MOH in food and food contact materials. Food contact materials are all materials intended to come into contact with food including packaging and containers.
On 17 May 2022 The Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed has issued a recommendation on the maximum acceptable content of MOAH in food.
By all accounts, these values are similar or higher than the migration limits passed in the German draft regulations.
≤ 4% fat – 0.5 mg/kg MOAH
> 4% fat – 1 mg/kg MOAH
Fatty foods – 2 mg/kg MOAH
The table below compiles the requirements for MOH migration limits discussed above.
|
Project German |
Recommendation BFR XXXVI |
Regulations French |
Committee Recommendation |
| MOAH C16-C35 0,5 mg/kg
lub 0,15 mg/kg |
12 mg/kg C10-C16
4 mg/kg C16-C20 |
1% MOSH C16 – C35 0,1% MOSH C16 – C35 0,1% MOAH C1 – C7 1 mg/kg MOAH C3 – C7
|
≤ 4% fat 0,5 mg/kg MOAH
> 4% fat 1 mg/kg MOAH Fatty Food 2 mg/kg MOAH |
Due to the increasing demands of the EU and our customers, the J.S Hamilton Poland Accredited Laboratory Services offers a wide range of testing for migration and mineral oil content in different matrices.
If you have any questions or concerns, the J.S. Hamilton Experts remain at your disposal.
Ensure the safety of your products
Wondering if your infant and child products are safe? Not sure which tests are necessary and which labels to use on toy packaging? The experts at J.S. Hamilton will dispel your doubts!
On 22-24 February 2023, J.S. Hamilton Experts participated in the 13th KIDS’ TIME International Fair for Toys and Maternal and Child Articles. Participation in the event enabled us not only to gain new business partners, but above all to have interesting as well as inspiring discussions, during which we learned about the most common concerns of manufacturers and distributors of baby and children’s products.
Due to the numerous product classifications and the range of standards or directives in force, it is not easy to reliably determine the range of potential risks and requirements for a given product and adapt them to the age of the child. However, such action is necessary to minimise the risk posed by the toy and to prevent the possibility of a product recall.
HOW TO LABEL A PRODUCT CORRECTLY AND WHY CAN’T A PRODUCT JUST BE 3+?
Very often, in order to ensure the safety of a product, we seemingly try to protect the consumer from danger. The toy standards and their accompanying documents make it clear at what stage of a child’s development we can incorporate appropriate products into play because of their motor skills. When analysing products, a teddy bear or a simple book with thick pages will always be intended for children under the age of three, and incorrect labelling can expose the customer to scrutiny by market surveillance authorities.
WHY CAN’T WARNINGS BE USED IN PRODUCTS INTENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE?
Analogous to the age classification, incorrect warnings mislead the consumer. It is unacceptable to include the statement ‘small elements may give off’, as the information must be unambiguous – small elements are present, or they are not. Depending on whether the product is intended for children under or over 3 years of age, we verify during testing that the product meets the requirements by subjecting it to the appropriate tests and verifying that the small parts release. As a rule, there cannot be such elements in products for consumers under 3 years of age, so only non-normative age designations such as 2+ or 18m.+ should be used. If, in a product intended for children under the age of three, a small part becomes detached, the product does not comply with EN 71-1.
IS IT NECESSARY TO CARRY OUT TESTS?
Yes, testing is a safeguard of the quality of your products and a confirmation of their safety. Of course, the scope of the study can be representative, determined on an individual basis, to which you are warmly invited. It is worth emphasising that the tests are a confirmation of the safety of your products.
As an accredited testing laboratory, one of our specialities is toy safety testing, including mechanical and chemical analyses. In accordance with our accreditation number AB 079, our range of services includes comprehensive consultancy and safety testing of toys as well as children’s and infant articles.
If you have any questions or concerns, J.S. Hamilton experts remain at your disposal.