Regulatory Affairs

NatureWorks has a fundamental duty to all those that use our products, and for the environment in which we live today and in the future. This duty is the basis for our Product Stewardship philosophy, by which we assess the health and environmental information on our products and their intended use. Our job is to maintain an effective product stewardship program to ensure that customers involved with our product receive sufficient information and training to store, use, and dispose of our product with no harm to human health or the environment. If you need further information regarding the toxicology or safe handling of our material please feel free to contact us.

Please select a topic for more information:

• Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
• Food Packaging Materials Compliance
• Biobased Content Certification
• Chemical Control Law Compliance
• RoHs and CONEG
• Industrial Composting / Organic Recycling
• Kosher and Halal
• Allergies
• Non-GM Certification

The information herein is presented in good faith and believed to be accurate as of the effective date of this document. However, no warranty, express or implied is given. Regulatory requirements are subject to change and may differ from one location to another; it is the buyer's responsibility to ensure that its activities comply with federal, state or provincial, and local laws. The following specific information is made for the purpose of complying with numerous federal, state or provincial, and local laws and regulations.

Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for Ingeo biopolymer are available for all grades of resin NatureWorks produces. Safety Data Sheets are provided to help customers satisfy their own handling, safety and disposal needs, and those that may be required by locally applicable health and safety regulations, such as OSHA (U.S.A), MAK (Germany), or WHMIS (Canada).

Download an SDS pdf:

Need an SDS in a language other than English? Please contact our Global Regulatory Affairs Department.

Ingeo biopolymer is suitable for food contact applications and has compliance with a number of food contact regulations around the globe. Below is a sample of the data from the US and Europe, if you need data on Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, South America, Taiwan, or another geographic region please contact us.

As supplied from our factory, the following grades comply with the following requirements:

In the US under FCN 178 (Food Contact Notification) which is inclusive of all food types with the limitation of condition of use B-H. 

In Europe as a raw material with 1935/2004/EEC and Regulation 10/2011, this applies to all EU Member States. Regulation 10/2011 specifies overall migration less than 10 mg/dm2, there are no SML’s for the above-referenced grade in Regulation 10/2011.

As supplied from our factory, the following grades comply with the following requirements:

In the US under FCN 475 (Food Contact Notification) which is inclusive of all food types with the limitation of condition of use C-G.

In Europe as a raw material with 1935/2004/EEC and Regulation 10/2011, this applies to all EU Member States. Regulation 10/2011 specifies overall migration less than 10 mg/dm2, there are no SML’s for the above-referenced grade in Regulation 10/2011.

More information about the FCN process or current list of materials can be found on FDA’s website at: www.fda.gov/food/ingredientspackaginglabeling/packagingfcs/notifications/default.htm

We urge all of our customers to perform GMP (Good Manufacturing Procedures) when constructing a package so that it is suitable for the end use. Please note that it is the responsibility of both the manufacturers of finished food contact articles as well as the industrial food packers to make sure that these articles in their actual use are in compliance with the imposed legislation.

This information is not intended to relieve you from the requirement to test your biobased product. Under the OK biobased and BioPreferred certification programs, a customer of NatureWorks cannot use the OK biobased or BioPreferred logo on their products without gaining these certifications on their end products.

Across the globe, regulations exist for local environmental authorities to evaluate materials to assure the protection of human health and the environment from any unreasonable risks associated with chemical substances. Ingeo, as supplied from the factory gate, complies with the below global chemical inventories:

If you need further data on chemical control law status in other regions of the world, please contact us.

Ingeo biopolymer is compliant with RoHs (2011/65/EC) and CONEG. During the manufacturing of Ingeo none of the restricted substances are intentionally added nor thought to be present.

Composting is a method of waste disposal that allows organic materials to be recycled into a product that can be used as a valuable soil amendment. Ingeo is a compostable material in municipal and industrial composting facilities where available. Ingeo breaks down, like other carbon based organic matter under industrial composting conditions. Ingeo is suitable for industrial-based composting systems which regulate temperature, moisture, and aeration.

This information is not intended to relieve you from the requirement to test your product(s). Under the BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) and DIN CERTCO certifications, a customer of NatureWorks cannot use the BPI or Seedling logo on their products without gaining these certifications on their end products.

Below is a sample data set of our certifications in the US and in Europe. If you need further data on composting or the certification systems in other regions of the world, please contact us.

In the United States

NatureWorks has carried out compost testing in accordance to ASTM D-6400 guidelines at an independent testing laboratory and found Ingeo biopolymer to pass all required tests. Ingeo as supplied from our factory carries BPI certification; examples of Ingeo products (with limitations) covered are:

Visit BPI for more details on compostable plastics and certification.

In Europe

NatureWorks has carried out compost testing in accordance to EU guidelines at an independent testing laboratory and found Ingeo to pass all required tests Ingeo as supplied from our factory is covered under our DIN CERTCO certificate according to EN-13432 with the limitation of:

Visit DIN CERTCO for more details on compostable plastics and certification.

This data is not intended to relieve you from the requirement to test your compostable product(s). We recommend you examine the regulation to determine your responsibilities as a manufacturer for ensuring your product is compliant. Any post addition of additives or colorants to NatureWorks resin will have to pass all required testing to meet compostability standards.

NatureWorks has obtained certification for Ingeo biopolymer resin through the Kashruth Division of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America and such grades are accordingly kosher and pareve. Ingeo biopolymer is not currently certified according to Halal.

Triggers of allergic responses are antigens, often proteins, which can be found in air, food, and water. In the case of corn allergens, profilin, a protein, has been identified in corn and in many other plant (food) extracts. When food is heated past the heat-labile point, its chemical configuration changes. Due to the extreme heat and numerous processing steps to convert corn into our feedstock and then to Ingeo, it would not contain immunologically reactive profilin and therefore no concerns regarding allergic reactions from Ingeo.

Ingeo biopolymer does not contain any known amounts of components derived from the ingredients listed in Directive 2003/89/EC and its amendments regarding allergens.

NatureWorks offers third-party verification that there is no genetic material in Ingeo biopolymer resin. Technical analysis and paperwork is provided by GeneScan, Inc., which is internationally recognized by governments and non-government organizations (NGOs) as the leading authority for testing food, feed and raw materials. This program can be tailored to meet specific customer documentation requirements.  For more information, see our feedstock certifications.

 Regulatory Affairs Compliance Information (RACI)