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FDA vs LFGB: 5 Critical Differences for Food Tinplate Cans

2025-07-30

How to Meet Both US & EU Food Safety Standards for Global Sales

For packaging manufacturers and brands selling tinplate food cans to both the US and EU, navigating FDA and LFBG regulations can feel like a balancing act. Even small differences in coating limits, testing protocols, or labeling rules can delay market entry and add compliance costs. In this guide, we break down the 5 critical differences between FDA (US) and LFBG (EU) standards — and share a practical, step-by-step approach to comply with both, so you can expand your global sales with confidence.

Table of Contents
Quick Answer: What Are the Core Differences?
5 Critical Differences Between FDA & LFBG
How to Comply With Both Standards (Actionable Steps)
Quick Recap & Next Steps
Quick Answer: What Are the Core Differences?

FDA (US) and LFBG (EU) have 5 key differences for tinplate food cans:
Coating migration limits
Testing methods
Labeling requirements
Tin content rules
Approval processes

The good news? By aligning with the stricter LFBG requirements, you can create tinplate cans that meet both standards — no need for separate production runs.

5 Critical Differences Between FDA & LFBG

Aspect	FDA (US)	LFBG (EU)
Coating migration limit	Maximum 50ppm (for most coatings)	Maximum 10ppm (stricter for food contact)
Testing method	Uses “worst-case” food simulants (e.g., 4% acetic acid)	Requires 3+ food simulants (covers more food types, including acidic, fatty, and aqueous foods)
Labeling	No mandatory “food-safe” label (compliance is implied)	Mandatory “food contact material” label (specific wording required, e.g., “Suitable for food contact”)
Tin content	No upper limit (as long as migration is low)	Maximum 200ppm tin in food (from can coating)
Approval process	Self-certification (manufacturer confirms compliance)	Third-party testing and documentation required (before market entry)

Practical Insight: LFBG’s stricter 10ppm migration limit means you’ll need to choose high-performance coatings that meet EU requirements — which will automatically exceed FDA’s 50ppm threshold, simplifying your compliance strategy.

How to Comply With Both Standards (Actionable Steps)

To streamline compliance for both markets, follow these steps:

Choose coatings with migration limits ≤10ppm: This meets LFBG’s strictest requirement and easily exceeds FDA’s 50ppm threshold.
Test with LFBG’s 3+ food simulants: This covers FDA’s “worst-case” testing requirements, so you won’t need separate tests for the US market.
Add LFBG-required labels: The EU’s “food contact material” label is widely accepted in the US, so you can use the same packaging for both regions.
Limit tin content to 200ppm: This meets both LFBG’s explicit limit and FDA’s implicit requirement for low migration.
Complete third-party testing: This satisfies LFBG’s mandatory pre-market approval and provides documentation to support your FDA self-certification.
Quick Recap & Next Steps

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Round Tin Cans

Rectangular Tin Cans

Two Piece Can

Three Piece Can

Food Grade Metal Can

Pressurized Aerosol Can

Torch Can

Blog Details

FDA vs LFGB: 5 Critical Differences for Food Tinplate Cans

FDA vs LFGB: 5 Critical Differences for Food Tinplate Cans

How to Meet Both US & EU Food Safety Standards for Global Sales

Table of Contents

Quick Answer: What Are the Core Differences?

5 Critical Differences Between FDA & LFBG

How to Comply With Both Standards (Actionable Steps)

Quick Recap & Next Steps