MOSH/MOAH Testing for PP Woven and BOPP Bags: Proactively Meeting EU Market Requirements

Some European customers have begun asking food-packaging suppliers to provide MOSH/MOAH test results or related supporting documentation. But what does this requirement actually mean? Are all PP woven bags and BOPP laminated woven bags used for food packaging subject to the same fixed MOSH/MOAH limit?

This is becoming an increasingly practical concern for importers, purchasing teams, and quality managers throughout the European food supply chain.

In response to this growing market requirement, Huong Sen Packaging is currently carrying out MOSH/MOAH testing on relevant packaging products. Once the testing is completed and official results are available, Huong Sen Packaging will provide the corresponding test reports and supporting documentation to customers upon request.

The key question is not simply whether testing has been performed. Buyers also need to understand which sample was tested, which analytical method was used, and whether the results are truly representative of the packaging structure they intend to purchase.

5 Key Points Buyers Should Know About MOSH/MOAH

1. MOSH and MOAH are the two main groups of Mineral Oil Hydrocarbons (MOH).
2. Mineral oil hydrocarbons can enter food through several different sources. Packaging is only one potential source that may need to be assessed, rather than the only source of contamination.
3. The EU is strengthening controls on MOAH in food, with reference thresholds such as Limits of Quantification (LOQ) commonly ranging from 0.5 mg/kg to 2.0 mg/kg, depending on the fat content of the food concerned. These values should not be interpreted as one fixed limit automatically applicable to every type of packaging.
4. There is no single implementation deadline that applies simultaneously to every packaging material and application across the EU.
5. A laboratory report is meaningful only when the tested sample, analytical method, Limit of Quantification (LOQ), and intended use are relevant to the actual product being supplied.

1. What Are MOSH and MOAH?

• MOSH – Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons: Saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons. According to the latest assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), current levels of MOSH exposure are generally not considered an immediate public-health concern, although continued monitoring remains important.
• MOAH – Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons. Certain compounds within this group are of particular concern because of their potential health effects. As a result, MOAH remains a major focus of food-safety control in the European Union.

2. What Does the EU Currently Require for MOSH/MOAH?

The most important distinction is that the limits currently being developed and updated by the EU relate directly to residues in food, rather than establishing one independent fixed limit for every packaging construction.

Regulation (EU) 2023/915 establishes maximum levels for certain contaminants in food. The EU continues to update the regulatory framework and develop maximum levels relating to MOAH.

Technical Reference Levels: LOQ and Action Thresholds

In practical laboratory testing and control programs carried out by independent testing organizations such as Cotecna, SGS, and Eurofins, the Limit of Quantification (LOQ) is typically selected according to the relevant food matrix.

Examples include:

• 0.5 mg/kg for dry foods with low fat/oil content of ≤ 4%.
• 1.0 mg/kg for foods with fat/oil content of > 4% and ≤ 50%.
• 2.0 mg/kg for pure oils and fats with fat/oil content of > 50%.

These values do not mean that every PP woven bag or BOPP bag exported to the EU must independently comply with the same numerical limit.

The assessment must consider the interaction between the packaging system and the specific food product being packed.

3. How Is MOSH/MOAH Testing Relevant to PP Woven and BOPP Bags?

There is no basis for assuming that a food-grade PP woven bag or BOPP laminated woven bag automatically contains MOSH or MOAH.

However, when assessing food packaging, testing only the virgin PP resin is not sufficient.

A finished bag may include several components, such as:

• Polypropylene woven fabric
• PP extrusion coating
• Printed BOPP film – Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene
• Printing inks
• Lamination adhesives
• An inner PE liner, where applicable
• Additives and processing aids

For this reason, the assessment should consider the complete finished packaging structure, particularly the material layer that is in direct contact with the packed product.

For example, a PP woven bag incorporating an inner PE liner may require a different migration-assessment approach from a conventional coated PP woven bag.

What Should a MOSH/MOAH Migration Test Evaluate?

When reviewing a technical test report, buyers should pay particular attention to five key factors:

1. Test sample: Was the packaging material itself tested, or was a food-contact simulant used?
2. Test method: Which analytical standard or method was applied, for example Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS)?
3. LOQ – Limit of Quantification: Is the analytical sensitivity appropriate for the required assessment, for example ≤ 0.5 mg/kg to 1.0 mg/kg, depending on the packaging structure and application?
4. Quantitative results: Are actual measured values reported for the relevant fractions, such as MOSH C10–C25, C25–C35, or MOAH fractions?
5. Scope of applicability: Which specific PP woven bag or BOPP bag construction does the result actually represent?

A useful rule for buyers:
Representative Sample + Appropriate Method + Clearly Defined LOQ + Quantitative Results + Correct Intended Use = Meaningful Compliance Evidence

A generic “PASS” statement alone is not sufficient for stringent quality-assurance review in the EU market.

4. What Is Huong Sen Packaging Doing About MOSH/MOAH?

Some EU customers of Huong Sen Packaging have already begun requesting MOSH/MOAH testing when evaluating packaging used within the food supply chain.

Huong Sen Packaging considers this part of a proactive approach to:

• food-packaging safety
• migration-risk control
• meeting increasingly stringent European market requirements

At present, Huong Sen Packaging is carrying out MOSH/MOAH testing on relevant PP woven bag and BOPP laminated woven bag products.

At the time of publication, the testing process is still underway at reputable independent laboratories.

Huong Sen Packaging will provide official laboratory test reports and supporting evidence only after verified results have been issued for the specific packaging structure concerned.

This approach ensures that any compliance documentation provided to customers is based on actual analytical evidence relevant to the product being purchased.

5. What Information Should Buyers Provide Before Requesting Testing?

To save time, avoid an incorrect testing scope, and minimize unnecessary retesting costs, customers purchasing PP woven or BOPP laminated bags should provide the manufacturer with the following technical information:

• Target export market, for example the European Union.
• Specific product to be packed, such as grains, sugar, flour, animal feed, or other products, together with the expected fat content where relevant.
• Detailed packaging construction: standard PP woven, coated PP woven, or BOPP laminated PP woven.
• Whether an inner PE liner is required and its expected thickness.
• Actual storage conditions and storage period.
• Any specific LOQ requirement or analytical method requested by the customer or importer.

Clear, measurable technical requirements always make the testing process more effective than a general request for a generic MOSH/MOAH certificate.