1 reply to this topic

[Raksha]

Dear all, 

 

Can you guys please advise whether the following specs for gloves (to handle hot trolleys/trays) will be approved for BRC Issue 8? Is it food grade? Is PVC approved? 

 

Product specifications

Chemical PVC. PVC on cotton knitted lining gauge 13. Rough-textured palm. Length: 30 cm.

Support: cotton.

Coating: PVC.

Thickness: 1,30 mm.

 

PPE DIRECTIVE EC 89/686

EN420:2003+A1:2009 General requirements

5: Dexterity (from 1 to 5)

EN388:2003 Protective gloves against mechanical Risks (Levels obtained on the palm)

4: Resistance to abrasion (from 1 to 4)

1: Resistance to cutting (from 1 to 5)

2: Resistance to tear (from 1 to 4)

1: Resistance to puncture (1 to 4)

EN374-2:2003 Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms - Part 2:

Determination of resistance to penetration

EN374-3:2003 Protective gloves against chemicals and micro-organisms - Part 3:

Determination of resistance to permeation by chemicals

AKL: Resistant gloves to permeation by chemicals, tested according to EN374-3

A 2 > 30 mn: Méthanol (A) CAS 67-56-1

K 6 > 480 mn: Caustic soda 40% (K) CAS 1310-73-2

L 3 > 60 mn: Sulphuric acid 96 % (L ) CAS 7664-93-9

 

Thanks for your input. 

 

 

[pHruit]

The specification details you've provided are primarily concerned with how much the gloves protect the user from various potential hazards, rather than whether they're suitable for food contact applications.
(N.B. The directive they've referenced in the spec is now a couple of years out of date, which isn't a great sign).

 

BRC itself doesn't really "approve" in the way you're asking. It's a global standard so can't define one set of requirements for things like this, where requirements and regulations vary around the world.

If there is expected contact (including incidental contact) with the foodstuff then the primary requirement that BRC would set would be that the material complies with applicable requirements for whether the factory is based, and also for the region(s) to which the factory exports if this is applicable.

 

The PVC from which the gloves are made will almost certainly contain various additives (plasticisers etc) to give it the required properties, as in its pure state it is a fairly brittle solid IIRC. The suitability of plastics for food contact applications is significantly affected by the nature of the additives used, and without any information on this it is very difficult to say.

 

I think the sensible thing to do here is to contact the supplier and ask if they can provide confirmation that the gloves meet the applicable (Mauritian?) standards for food contact applications. I'm not at all familiar with the regulatory framework in that part of the world, so I'm afraid that I can't really comment as to what specifics this might need to include.