"Food grade" is not a certification — it is a starting point for a conversation. Whether a film is actually suitable for a specific food, at a specific temperature, for a specific shelf life, depends on the resin, any additives, and how the finished pack will be used. Buyers who ask the right questions up front avoid re-qualifying packaging late in a product launch.
The two frameworks you will run into most
In the United States, food-contact substances are governed under the FDA framework (commonly referenced by CFR Title 21), which covers which resins and additives may be used in contact with food and under what conditions of use.
In the European Union, plastic materials intended for food contact are governed by a dedicated regulation on plastic food-contact materials, sitting under the broader EU food-contact framework, and typically require a Declaration of Compliance from the manufacturer plus, for some structures, migration testing.
Other markets often reference one of these two frameworks directly or maintain a parallel national standard — worth confirming with your supplier for the specific destination market rather than assuming a film "compliant everywhere."
What "migration testing" actually checks
Migration testing measures how much of a substance can transfer from the packaging into food (or into a food simulant standing in for it) under defined time and temperature conditions. The result is compared against a legal limit, which can be an overall migration limit or a limit specific to one substance.
The relevant simulant and test conditions depend on the food type (fatty, aqueous, alcoholic, dry) and the expected contact time and temperature — a pouch for room-temperature snacks is tested differently than one for a hot-filled sauce.
A short checklist before you order
Ask your supplier for: a written Declaration of Compliance for the specific film structure and intended food category; migration test data (or a statement of why it is not required for that structure); confirmation of any printing inks and adhesives used in the laminate, since these are also subject to food-contact rules, not just the base film; and the specific regulatory framework the documentation is issued against (FDA, EU, or another market standard).
If your product is destined for more than one market, confirm compliance separately for each — a structure cleared for one framework is not automatically cleared for another.