SIST EN 601:2026
(Main)Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Castings - Chemical composition of castings for use in contact with foodstuff
Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Castings - Chemical composition of castings for use in contact with foodstuff
This document specifies the maximum mass content of alloying elements and impurities in aluminium and aluminium alloy cast materials and articles designed to be in contact with foodstuff. It contains provisions for the demonstration of conformity of products with the present document.
NOTE Materials include ingots and liquid metal. Articles are finished goods.
Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen - Gussstücke - Chemische Zusammensetzung von Gussstücken, die in Kontakt mit Lebensmitteln kommen
Dieses Dokument legt den maximalen Massenanteil an Legierungselementen und Verunreinigungen in Aluminium und Aluminium-Gusslegierungen und Erzeugnissen fest, die für den Kontakt mit Lebensmitteln vorgesehen sind. Es enthält Bestimmungen für den Nachweis der Übereinstimmung von Erzeugnissen mit diesem Dokument.
ANMERKUNG Gusslegierungen gibt es als Masseln und Flüssigmetall. Erzeugnisse sind Fertigwaren.
Aluminium et alliages d’aluminium - Pièces moulées - Composition chimique des pièces moulées destinées à entrer en contact avec les denrées alimentaires
Le présent document spécifie les teneurs massiques maximales en éléments d’alliage et en impuretés dans les matériaux et articles en aluminium et alliages d’aluminium de moulage destinés à entrer en contact avec les denrées alimentaires. Il contient des dispositions pour la démonstration de la conformité des produits au présent document.
NOTE Les lingots et le métal liquide font partie des matériaux. Les articles sont des produits finis.
Aluminij in aluminijeve zlitine - Ulitki - Kemična sestava ulitkov za uporabo v stiku z živili
Ta dokument določa največjo vsebnost zlitinskih elementov in nečistoč v litih materialih in izdelkih iz aluminija in aluminijevih zlitin, namenjenih za stik z živili. Vsebuje določbe za dokazovanje skladnosti izdelkov s tem dokumentom.
OPOMBA: Materiali vključujejo ingote in tekočo kovino. Izdelki so končni proizvodi.
General Information
- Status
- Published
- Public Enquiry End Date
- 30-Jul-2025
- Publication Date
- 15-Jun-2026
- Technical Committee
- INEK - Nonferrous metals
- Current Stage
- 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
- Start Date
- 11-Jun-2026
- Due Date
- 16-Aug-2026
- Completion Date
- 16-Jun-2026
Relations
- Effective Date
- 10-Jun-2026
- Effective Date
- 26-Mar-2025
Overview
SIST EN 601:2026 sets the requirements for the chemical composition of aluminium and aluminium alloy castings intended for use in contact with foodstuff. Developed by SIST, this European standard ensures the safety and suitability of cast aluminium products that may be used for food containers, packaging, kitchenware, or similar articles. The standard specifies maximum permissible levels of alloying elements and impurities to limit hazardous migration into food and outlines criteria for demonstrating compliance. Its provisions cover both ingots and finished articles, and it aligns with key European regulations on food safety and packaging.
Key Topics
- Chemical Composition Limits: The standard defines strict maximum contents for elements such as iron, silicon, copper, magnesium, manganese, zinc, tin, and others in cast aluminium and aluminium alloys. Specific limits are provided to ensure the material’s suitability for food contact.
- Safety Considerations: Limitations on potentially toxic elements are based on toxicological data to protect consumer health, especially regarding the migration of substances into food.
- Compliance and Traceability: Manufacturers must establish quality assurance systems to verify material compliance, ensure traceability, and provide type 3.1 inspection certificates according to EN 10204.
- Material Selection: The document guides the selection of appropriate aluminium or alloy based on specific food contact applications, including considerations such as contact time, temperature, pH, and regulatory requirements.
- Regulatory Alignment: The standard references key European legislation, such as Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 and Directive 94/62/EC on packaging and packaging waste, ensuring harmonization with broader food safety requirements.
Applications
SIST EN 601:2026 is critical for industries and sectors manufacturing aluminium castings expected to be in direct or indirect contact with food. Typical applications include:
- Food and Beverage Packaging: Aluminium containers, trays, caps, and closures designed for food storage or transport.
- Kitchenware and Tableware Manufacturing: Production of cast pots, pans, and utensils that come into contact with food during preparation or serving.
- Industrial Food Processing Equipment: Components used within processing machines, conveyors, or storage vessels where maintaining low levels of impurities is essential.
- Retail Food Products: Finished articles that may touch food, such as serving dishes or food display trays.
By adhering to SIST EN 601:2026, manufacturers ensure their products are compliant with legal and consumer safety requirements for materials intended for food contact within the European Union and internationally.
Related Standards
This standard is closely linked with several other standards and regulations important for food-contact articles:
- EN 1706: Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Castings – Chemical composition and mechanical properties.
- EN 10204: Metallic products – Types of inspection documents.
- EN 12258-1: Aluminium and aluminium alloys – Terms and definitions.
- Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004: Framework regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006: Good manufacturing practice for materials and articles in contact with food.
- Directive 94/62/EC (as amended by Directive 2018/852/EC): On packaging and packaging waste, including concentration limits for certain hazardous substances in packaging materials.
SIST EN 601:2026 is an essential reference for compliance and quality assurance in the food-contact aluminium castings industry, supporting safer products and easier access to European markets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
SIST EN 601:2026 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Castings - Chemical composition of castings for use in contact with foodstuff". This standard covers: This document specifies the maximum mass content of alloying elements and impurities in aluminium and aluminium alloy cast materials and articles designed to be in contact with foodstuff. It contains provisions for the demonstration of conformity of products with the present document. NOTE Materials include ingots and liquid metal. Articles are finished goods.
This document specifies the maximum mass content of alloying elements and impurities in aluminium and aluminium alloy cast materials and articles designed to be in contact with foodstuff. It contains provisions for the demonstration of conformity of products with the present document. NOTE Materials include ingots and liquid metal. Articles are finished goods.
SIST EN 601:2026 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 67.250 - Materials and articles in contact with foodstuffs; 77.150.10 - Aluminium products. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
SIST EN 601:2026 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN 14392:2008, SIST EN 601:2004. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
SIST EN 601:2026 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-julij-2026
Aluminij in aluminijeve zlitine - Ulitki - Kemična sestava ulitkov, ki se uporabljajo v
stiku z živili
Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Castings - Chemical composition of castings for use in
contact with foodstuff
Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen - Gussstücke - Chemische Zusammensetzung
von Gussstücken, die in Kontakt mit Lebensmitteln kommen
Aluminium et alliages d’aluminium - Pièces moulées - Composition chimique des pièces
moulées destinées à entrer en contact avec les denrées alimentaires
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 601:2026
ICS:
67.250 Materiali in predmeti v stiku z Materials and articles in
živili contact with foodstuffs
77.150.10 Aluminijski izdelki Aluminium products
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
EN 601
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
June 2026
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 77.150.10 Supersedes EN 601:2004
English Version
Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Castings - Chemical
composition of castings for use in contact with foodstuff
Aluminium et alliages d'aluminium - Pièces moulées - Aluminium und Aluminiumlegierungen - Gussstücke -
Composition chimique des pièces moulées destinées à Chemische Zusammensetzung von Gussstücken, die in
entrer en contact avec les denrées alimentaires Kontakt mit Lebensmitteln kommen
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 20 April 2026.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.
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.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 601:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Maximum permissible content of elements for foodstuff application . 5
4.1 Cast aluminium . 5
4.2 Cast aluminium alloys . 5
5 Selection of cast aluminium and aluminium alloys . 6
6 Demonstration of compliance with the present standard . 7
Annex A (informative) A-deviations . 8
Bibliography . 9
European foreword
This document (EN 601:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 132 “Aluminium and
aluminium alloys”, the secretariat of which is held by AFNOR.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by December 2026, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by December 2026.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
This document supersedes EN 601:2004.
— Addition of bismuth element limitation in Table 2;
— Deletion of nickel, antimony, strontium element limitations from Table 2;
— Informative reference to European Parliament and Council Directive 94/62/EC of 20 December 1994
and its amendment from 2018 on packaging and packaging waste;
— Addition of a Bibliography.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: 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 the United
Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies the maximum mass content of alloying elements and impurities in aluminium
and aluminium alloy cast materials and articles designed to be in contact with foodstuff. It contains
provisions for the demonstration of conformity of products with the present document.
NOTE Materials include ingots and liquid metal. Articles are finished goods.
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 1706, Aluminium and aluminium alloys — Castings — Chemical composition and mechanical properties
EN 10204, Metallic products - Types of inspection documents
EN 12258-1, Aluminium and aluminium alloys - Terms and definitions - Part 1: General terms
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12258-1 and the following 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
aluminium
aluminium without alloying elements where the minimum aluminium content is specified to be greater
than 99,00 %, provided that the content by mass of any other element does not exceed the limit specified
in Table 1
Table 1 — Aluminium - Other elements
Element Maximum content
% (by mass)
Iron + Silicon 1,0
0,10 (if Cr and / or Mn ≥ 0,05)
Copper
0,20 (if Cr < 0,05 and Mn < 0,05)
a
Other elements 0,10 each
a
Other elements are for example, Cr, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn.
[SOURCE: EN 12258-1, 2.1.2, modified (title changed from “unalloyed aluminium” as “alum
...



