kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 18244:2025
(Main)Testing of paper and board - Determination of the transfer of mineral oil hydrocarbons from food contact materials manufactured with portions of recycled pulp
Testing of paper and board - Determination of the transfer of mineral oil hydrocarbons from food contact materials manufactured with portions of recycled pulp
This document specifies a test method for estimating the transfer of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from food contact materials containing recycled pulp. This test method applicable for examining the extent of migration from paper and board equipped with a barrier or other measures to reduce the amount of migration. This test method is also applicable to paper and board made from virgin fibres.
Prüfung von Papier und Pappe - Bestimmung des Übergangs von Mineralölkohlenwasserstoffen aus Lebensmittelbedarfsgegenständen, die Altpapierstoffanteile enthalten
Dieses Dokument legt ein Prüfverfahren zur Abschätzung des Übergangs von gesättigten und aromatischen Mineralölkohlenwasserstoffen (MOSH, en: mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons; MOAH, en: mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons) aus Lebensmittelbedarfsgegenständen fest, die Altpapierstoffanteile enthalten. Dieses Prüfverfahren kann angewendet werden, um das Ausmaß der Migration aus Papier, Karton und Pappe, die mit einer Barriere oder anderen Maßnahmen zur Verringerung der Migration ausgestattet sind, zu überprüfen. Dieses Prüfverfahren gilt auch für Papier, Karton und Pappe aus Frischfasern.
Essais des papiers et pâtes - Détermination du transfert d’hydrocarbures d’huile minérale à partir de matériaux en contact avec les aliments contenant de la pâte recyclée
Preskušanje papirja in kartona - Ugotavljanje prenosa ogljikovodikov mineralnih olj iz materialov, ki prihajajo v stik z živili in so izdelani iz delov reciklirane celuloze
General Information
- Status
- Not Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 24-Dec-2025
- Technical Committee
- VPK - Pulp, paper, board and products
- Current Stage
- 5520 - Unique Acceptance Procedure (UAP) (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 27-Oct-2025
- Due Date
- 16-Mar-2026
- Completion Date
- 05-Jan-2026
Overview
FprCEN/TS 18244:2025 is a CEN draft Technical Specification that defines a standardised test method to estimate the transfer of mineral oil hydrocarbons from paper- and board-based food contact materials. The method targets both mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) and is specifically designed for materials manufactured with portions of recycled pulp, materials fitted with functional barriers, and also paper/board from virgin fibres. The procedure uses a sorbent (MPPO, e.g. Tenax®) in contact with the food-contact surface, thermal storage, solvent extraction and chromatographic analysis.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope: Estimation of MOSH/MOAH migration from paper and board (sheets, reels; with limited applicability to finished 3D articles).
- Test principle: Cover the food contact side with MPPO (poly(2,6‑diphenyl‑p‑phenylene oxide)), store under defined thermal conditions, extract MPPO with n‑hexane, and quantify MOSH/MOAH by GC‑FID or off-/on‑line HPLC‑GC‑FID.
- Specimen preparation: 100 cm2 test area; typical MPPO mass ≈ 4.0 g to cover the area.
- Storage conditions: Accelerated storage at 40 °C; recommended durations include 10 days (representing up to 12 months ambient) and 30 days (representing up to 24 months ambient).
- Equipment: Petri dishes or migration cells, analytical balance, ultrasonic bath, GC‑FID or HPLC‑GC‑FID systems.
- Reagents and standards: n‑Hexane extraction solvent, hydrocarbon standard mixtures and internal standards for retention range and quantification. Note: MPPO can contain impurities-cleaning procedures (e.g., per EN 14338) are referenced.
- Outcome: Provides migration values to assess functional barrier performance; it is a measurement method and does not define acceptance criteria.
Applications
- Barrier evaluation: Verify effectiveness of coatings, adsorbents or other barrier technologies used to limit MOSH/MOAH migration.
- Supplier qualification & QC: Routine or batch testing of recycled-fibre and virgin-fibre paper/board for food packaging.
- Risk assessment & shelf‑life simulation: Use accelerated test results to estimate long‑term transfer during storage.
- Regulatory and investigative testing: Support lab testing for food safety authorities and industry investigations into MOSH/MOAH contamination sources.
Who should use this standard
- Paper, board and packaging manufacturers and converters
- Food packaging designers and brand owners
- Accredited analytical and testing laboratories
- Food safety authorities and compliance auditors
- R&D teams developing barrier solutions or recycled-fibre formulations
Related standards
- EN 1186‑1 (selection of test conditions for migration testing) - referenced normative document.
- EN 14338 - referenced for MPPO cleaning procedures.
Keywords: mineral oil hydrocarbons, MOSH, MOAH, food contact materials, recycled pulp, paper and board, migration testing, MPPO, Tenax, GC‑FID, barrier testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 18244:2025 is a draft published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Testing of paper and board - Determination of the transfer of mineral oil hydrocarbons from food contact materials manufactured with portions of recycled pulp". This standard covers: This document specifies a test method for estimating the transfer of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from food contact materials containing recycled pulp. This test method applicable for examining the extent of migration from paper and board equipped with a barrier or other measures to reduce the amount of migration. This test method is also applicable to paper and board made from virgin fibres.
This document specifies a test method for estimating the transfer of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from food contact materials containing recycled pulp. This test method applicable for examining the extent of migration from paper and board equipped with a barrier or other measures to reduce the amount of migration. This test method is also applicable to paper and board made from virgin fibres.
kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 18244:2025 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 67.250 - Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs; 85.060 - Paper and board. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
kSIST-TS FprCEN/TS 18244:2025 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2025
Preskušanje papirja in kartona - Ugotavljanje prenosa ogljikovodikov mineralnih
olj iz materialov, ki prihajajo v stik z živili in so izdelani iz delov reciklirane celuloze
Testing of paper and board - Determination of the transfer of mineral oil hydrocarbons
from food contact materials manufactured with portions of recycled pulp
Prüfung von Papier und Pappe - Bestimmung des Übergangs von
Mineralölkohlenwasserstoffen aus Lebensmittelbedarfsgegenständen, die
Altpapierstoffanteile enthalten
Essais des papiers et pâtes - Détermination du transfert d’hydrocarbures d’huile
minérale à partir de matériaux en contact avec les aliments contenant de la pâte
recyclée
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: FprCEN/TS 18244
ICS:
67.250 Materiali in predmeti v stiku z Materials and articles in
živili contact with foodstuffs
85.060 Papir, karton in lepenka Paper and board
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
FINAL DRAFT
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
SPÉCIFICATION TECHNIQUE
TECHNISCHE SPEZIFIKATION
October 2025
ICS 67.250
English Version
Testing of paper and board - Determination of the transfer
of mineral oil hydrocarbons from food contact materials
manufactured with portions of recycled pulp
Essais des papiers et pâtes - Détermination du Prüfung von Papier und Pappe - Bestimmung des
transfert d'hydrocarbures d'huile minérale à partir de Übergangs von Mineralölkohlenwasserstoffen aus
matériaux en contact avec les aliments contenant de la Lebensmittelbedarfsgegenständen, die
pâte recyclée Altpapierstoffanteile enthalten
This draft Technical Specification is submitted to CEN members for Vote. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 172.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.
Warning : This document is not a Technical Specification. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change
without notice and shall not be referred to as a Technical Specification.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. FprCEN/TS 18244:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
Introduction . 4
1 Scope . 6
2 Normative references . 6
3 Terms and definitions . 6
4 Principle . 6
5 Reagents . 7
6 Equipment and materials. 8
7 Preparation of test specimens . 8
8 Test conditions for the storage with MPPO and retention range in gas chromatography . 9
8.1 Test conditions for the storage with MPPO . 9
8.2 Retention range . 9
9 Procedure . 9
9.1 General information on the procedure . 9
9.2 Production of standard solution . 10
9.3 Production of the extraction standard . 10
9.4 Storage with MPPO in Petri dishes . 10
9.5 Storage with MPPO in migration cells . 11
9.6 Processing. 11
9.6.1 Processing of MPPO with extraction standard . 11
9.6.2 Processing of MPPO without extraction standard . 11
9.7 Determination of MOSH and MOAH in MPPO . 12
10 Test report . 13
Bibliography . 14
European foreword
This document (FprCEN/TS 18244:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 172 “Pulp,
paper and board”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This document is currently submitted to the Vote on TS.
Introduction
The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) has been concerned with questions
involving the occurrence, application and toxicology of mineral oil hydrocarbons in food [1], [2] since the
st
first decade of the 21 century. Thus, among other things, it became clear that the occurrence of
hydrocarbons in food is not only attributable to targeted use of additives containing mineral oil, but is
also based on naturally occurring ingredients. Impurities from manufacturing, processing, packaging and
transport processes were also known.
Mineral oil hydrocarbons came into focus in connection with food packaging after it was determined in
2009 that they occur in packaging made from recycled paper board or paper and can migrate into food.
Printing ink containing mineral oil, used particularly in newspaper printing, was identified as the main
source of the mineral oil hydrocarbons in recycled paper board and paper [3]. These printing inks contain
highly refined mineral oil products as solvents. A distinction was made between mineral oil saturated
hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH).
Within the scope of a decision-making guidance project of the German Federal Ministry of Food,
Agriculture and Consumer Protection the contaminant load of packaging containing recycled fibres as
well as the potential migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons in particular were proven [4]. Mineral oil
hydrocarbons were ascertained in a large number of dry, non-fatty foodstuffs from the retail trade;
although there was no causal examination of their sources of input in this study design.
As a result of the "mineral oil discussion" over several years within the entire food chain, including the
packaging and raw material industries, private and public testing facilities, authorities and non-
governmental organizations, additional knowledge is available today with regard to foreseeable sources
of contamination, avoidable and unavoidable ubiquitous contamination, as well as the analytic
challenges.
Since that time the food chain has developed different strategies and technologies with which sources of
entry can be identified and controlled. Thus, the measurable concentration of mineral oil hydrocarbons
was able to be substantially reduced in the case of a very large number of foods. The declining number of
complaints from the official food inspection authorities and regular publication of product testing provide
ample proof.
Manufacturers and converters offer various marketable solutions for protecting food from the migration
of mineral oil hydrocarbons from sustainable, fibre-based packaging and/or for protection against
ubiquitous mineral oil hydrocarbons:
1) use of select qualities of paper and board for recycling with reduced mineral oil hydrocarbons for
manufacturing recycled paper and board;
2) use of paper and board from virgin fibre for manufacturing food contact materials;
3) use of paper and board from virgin or recycled fibre with a functional barrier (coating, adsorbent or
other measures).
Which approach ensures the best possible protection of a given food against the transfer of mineral oil
hydrocarbons from fibre-based food contact materials or contamination from the environment can in
each case only be determined by the market participants in the individual case of application.
It has been shown that numerous factors of influence, among other things like the kind of food (fatty, dry,
etc.), its storage life, its processing, transport and storage conditions as well as the use by the consumer,
are to be considered when it comes to configuration of a suitable packaging system.
The migration potential of mineral oil hydrocarbons is of crucial importance for evaluation of the
functional barrier quality of fibre-based packaging materials and packaging components. As a rule, the
functionality of a barrier is evaluated through measurement of the migration of substances (in this case
mineral oil hydrocarbons) over a defined period of time (e.g. shelf life of the foodstuffs).
Thus, it follows, that for these barrier solutions it is necessary to examine the migration of mineral oil
hydrocarbons with the help of a standardised measuring method.
With this document a standardised measuring method is made available for evaluating the functional
barrier quality. In the individual case of application, it allows for conclusions about estimates of the
migration of mineral oil hydrocarbons from fibre-based paper and board equipped with a barrier.
The measuring method is applicable to paper and board (sheets and reels) and with restrictions
(applicable) to the finished, three-dimensional food contact material (e.g. folding boxes).
The manufacturers of fibre-based paper and board with barrier function know the individual processing
conditions for their materials and recommend them to their customers. These specifications enable the
converter to perform an individual case risk evaluation of migration from the finished food contact
material for the unprocessed material on the basis of the determined values.
This document only describes a standardized measuring method for the determination of migration
values. It does not define any quality requirements for paper and board with barrier function or fibre-
based food contact materials manufactured from them.
1 Scope
This document specifies a test method for estimating the transfer of mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons
(MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) from food contact materials containing recycled
pulp. This test method applicable for examining the extent of migration from paper and board equipped
with a barrier or other measures to reduce the amount of migration. This test method is also applicable
to paper and board made from virgin fibres.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 1186-1, Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs — Plastics — Part 1: Guide to the selection of
conditions and test methods for overall migration
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
3.1
mineral oil saturated hydrocarbon
MOSH
saturated hydrocarbon from mineral oil which consist of aliphatic hydrocarbons (paraffins) as well as
alkylated and non-alkylated cyclic hydrocarbons (naphthenes)
3.2
mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbon
MOAH
highly alkylated aromatic hydrocarbon from mineral oil with one or more aromatic rings
4 Principle
The side of the test specimen intended for contact with food shall be covered with MPPO [poly(2,6-
diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide), e.g. available under the trade name Tenax® ] and stored under the
required time and temperature test conditions. Storage shall take place in a thermostatically controlled
oven. After storage the MPPO shall be extracted with n-hexane.
Tenax® is the trade name of the product supplied by Varian BV, Herculesweg 8, NL-4338 PL Middelburg. This
information is given for the convenience of users of this CEN/TS and does not constitute an endorsement by CEN
of this product. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
5 Reagents
Reagents shown in Table 1 shall be used. All chemicals shall be of analytically pure quality unless
otherwise indicated.
Table 1 — List of reagents
a
Reagents CAS Registry Number®
b
a n-Hexane 110-54-3
b Toluene 108-88-3
c
c MPPO poly(2,6-diphenyl-p-phenylene oxide) —
d
d n-Dodecane 112-40-3
d
e n-Pentacosane 629-99-2
d
f Hexylbenzene 1077-16-3
g n-Undecane 1120-21-4
h n-Pentylbenzene 538-68-1
i n-Tridecane 629-50-5
j 1-Methylnaphthalene 90-12-0
k Cyclohexylcyclohexane 92-51-3
l 2-Methylnaphthalene 91-57-6
m 1,3,5-Tri-tert-butylbenzene 1460-02-2
n Perylene 198-55-0
o 5-α Cholestane 481-21-0
e
p n-Alkane standard mixture C to C —
10 40
NOTE 1 MPPO is a polymer with a high molecular weight (containing (500 000 to
1 000 000) Dalton). It is a very stable and porous material with high temperature resistance (T
max
= 350 °C), a large surface and a low specific mass (0,23 g/cm ).
NOTE 2 Gas chromatograms of extracts of commercially available MPPO have shown that
impurities can be present at a significant measure. A method for cleaning can be found in
EN 14338.
a
CAS Registry Number® (CAS RN®) is a trademark American Chemical Society (ACS). This information is
given for the convenience of users of this document and does not constitute an endorsement by CEN of the
product named. Equivalent products may be used if they can be shown to lead to the same results.
b
For chromatography.
c
60 to 80 mesh.
d
For processing of MPPO with extraction standard (see 9.6.1).
e
Solution of same concentration in a non-polar solvent, ρ = 1 μg/ml for determination of the retention
ranges according to 8.2.
6 Equipment and materials
The usual laboratory apparatus and laboratory glassware shall be used, in addition to the following
shown in Table 2.
Table 2 — List of common laboratory instruments
Instruments Specification
Circle cutter 1 dm or round template of 113 mm
a Cutting tool
diameter and a scalpel
b Ruler Divided into mm, with an accuracy of 0,5 mm
c Spoon Made of stainless steel for transferring MPPO
d Analytical balance With an accuracy of 0,1 mg
Thermosta
...










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