Kraft paper bowls must primarily comply with the *National Food Safety Standard – Paper and Paperboard Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food* (GB 4806.8-2022). If they feature a coating layer (lamination), they must also comply with the *National Food Safety Standard – Plastic Materials and Articles Intended to Come into Contact with Food* (GB 4806.7-2016). The upcoming national standard for *Paper Tableware* (GB/T 27591-2025) will also set requirements for them. Details are as follows:
1. **Base Standard (GB 4806.8-2022):** As paper products intended for food contact, kraft paper bowls must comply with GB 4806.8-2022. This standard establishes clear requirements regarding raw materials, additives, sensory characteristics, and physicochemical indicators (such as potassium permanganate consumption and heavy metal migration limits) to ensure that the paper products do not release harmful substances during direct contact with food, thereby safeguarding food safety. For instance, the standard prohibits the detection of fluorescent substances in the paper products to avoid potential health risks.
2. **Coating Layer Standard (GB 4806.7-2016):** If the kraft paper bowl features a waterproof coating (such as a polyethylene/PE film), it must also comply with GB 4806.7-2016. This standard sets limits on indicators such as the overall migration limit (OML), specific migration limits (SML) for substances like heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium), and potassium permanganate consumption, preventing the release of harmful substances from the plastic layer under high-temperature or acidic conditions. For example, the standard stipulates that the overall migration from the plastic layer must not exceed 10 mg/dm² to ensure safety during use. 3. Upcoming Standard: The national standard GB/T 27591-2025, "Paper Tableware," is set to take effect on December 1, 2025. This standard imposes stricter requirements on parameters such as biodegradation rate, dimensional deviation, and load-bearing capacity. For instance, the biodegradation rate must meet a specific threshold to reduce environmental pollution, and the load-bearing capacity must satisfy defined criteria to ensure the bowl does not easily deform or break during use. Although the standard is not yet in force, enterprises should pay close attention to it now and adjust their production processes to ensure compliance with future requirements.