Explore what makes PVC strip curtains truly food safe — from EU food contact regulations to their critical role in hygiene, compliance, and contamination control.
Food safety isn’t just about what’s on the plate — it starts with the environment where food is handled, stored, and prepared. In facilities around the world, from meat processing plants to refrigerated warehouses, even the smallest detail matters when it comes to hygiene and compliance.
That includes the materials used to separate spaces. PVC strip curtains, when designed for food contact applications, do more than control temperature or block airflow — they help prevent cross-contamination, manage sanitation zones, and support regulatory compliance.
So, what exactly makes a PVC strip safe for “food contact”? In this article, we’ll break down the key regulations in Europe, explain how food-grade PVC is engineered, and highlight where these materials are most effective in your facility.
What does “Food Contact” mean for PVC?
In food-related environments, the term “Food Contact” isn’t just a marketing label — it reflects a material’s compliance with strict health and safety standards. When applied to PVC strip curtains, safe for food contact means the material can be safely used in areas where food is stored, handled, or prepared, without posing a risk of contamination.
To meet this standard, PVC must be:
- Food safe ingredients: Only raw materials that are authorized for being used to make PVC materials in contact with food can be used as they are considered safe.
Low-migration (to avoid cross-contamination): The PVC should not leach additives or plasticizers that could compromise hygiene or product integrity.
- Safe for use in all relevant zones: including areas where food is handled, packaged, processed, or stored.
Unlike standard PVC used in industrial applications, food-safe PVC is specifically engineered to ensure that it does not introduce contaminants — even in high-traffic environments like cold storage rooms, meat processing areas, or packaging zones. This ensures not only regulatory compliance but also peace of mind for food safety professionals and operations managers alike.
Certifications that matter
When it comes to food safety in Europe and beyond, strict regulations ensure that any material coming into contact with food—directly or indirectly—is held to the highest standards. For PVC strip curtains used in food environments, this means more than just high performance; it means full compliance with recognized international safety benchmarks.
EU Regulation 10/2011: Setting the Standard for Plastics
In the EU, strict regulatory frameworks govern which materials are permitted for food contact. PVC used in strip curtains must comply with multiple directives to ensure safety in direct and indirect food handling zones.
The cornerstone of food-contact safety in the EU is Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011, which sets out detailed requirements for plastic materials intended to come into contact with food. This includes:
- Global Migration Limits (GML): Ensuring that the total amount of non-volatile substances migrating from the plastic does not exceed 10 mg/dm² of food contact surface.
- Specific Migration Limits (SML): Monitoring the migration of individual substances (such as plasticizers, stabilizers, or monomers) to confirm they remain within safe, predefined thresholds.
- Material Testing & Simulants: Certified materials undergo rigorous testing in food simulants that replicate real-world food conditions.
These tests confirm that the PVC strips will not leach harmful substances into food or food-handling environments, making them suitable for use in everything from cold rooms to prep zones.
REACH and RoHS Compliance: Protecting Workers and End Users
In addition to food-contact regulations, REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) and RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) play key roles in ensuring that PVC strip curtains are:
- Free from Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs): Including phthalates, heavy metals, and other toxic additives.
- Safe to manufacture, install, and use: Protecting not only the food being handled but also the employees working around these materials daily.
This dual-layer compliance ensures both environmental responsibility and human health protection at every stage of the product lifecycle.
Full Documentation You Can Rely On
At Extruflex, we go beyond basic compliance to provide full transparency and support for every food-grade PVC product we manufacture. Our customers receive:
- Certificates of Compliance confirming adherence to EU Regulation 10/2011, REACH, and RoHS directives
- Independent Testing Reports that validate migration limits and verify material safety
- Batch Traceability and Production Records for full visibility and control over every shipment
This documentation helps food safety managers, auditors, and procurement teams maintain regulatory compliance and operational confidence — with no guesswork required.
Key features of Extruflex PVC strips
In high-compliance food environments, material performance matters just as much as certification. PVC strip curtains must deliver more than regulatory approval — they need to perform reliably in fast-paced, hygiene-critical spaces. Extruflex PVC strips are designed with key features that support both food safety and operational efficiency:
- Crystal-clear visibility: Extruflex PVC offers exceptional optical clarity, enabling staff to safely navigate high-traffic areas and monitor activities across work zones. This visibility improves safety and coordination in environments like packaging lines, loading docks, and walk-in coolers.
- Smooth, non-porous surface: The strips are easy to clean and disinfect, thanks to their smooth and non-porous structure. This prevents the buildup of bacteria, dust, or food residues, supporting strict sanitation protocols and simplifying cleaning routines.
- Durability in demanding conditions: Designed to withstand constant use, Extruflex PVC strips remain flexible and impact-resistant even in low-temperature environments. This makes them ideal for cold storage areas, refrigerated warehouses, and freezer access points.
Whether used as a barrier to reduce airborne contaminants or to separate hygiene zones, these features ensure that Extruflex PVC strips are not only compliant — they’re also built for real-world food facility demands.
Where PVC strips are used in food facilities
In food facilities PVC strip curtains play a critical role in maintaining hygiene and controlling temperature across a wide range of operational zones. Their versatility makes them an essential fixture in regulated environments, from production floors to distribution points.
Common applications include:
- Food processing lines and prep zones: PVC strips help separate raw and ready-to-eat areas, supporting zoning protocols and minimizing the risk of contamination during handling and preparation.
- Cold storage and chilled distribution areas: In walk-in freezers, blast chillers, and refrigerated loading zones, PVC strips maintain consistent temperatures and reduce thermal exchange during frequent access.
- Packaging and labeling areas: Strip curtains provide a physical barrier that helps isolate clean packing zones, ensuring that finished products are protected from dust, insects, and airborne contaminants.
- Washdown and clean zones: Made with smooth, non-porous surfaces, Extruflex PVC strips are ideal for areas requiring regular sanitation. They withstand moisture, cleaning agents, and high-frequency cleaning cycles.
- Loading docks and food transport staging areas: Strip curtains act as flexible barriers that block external contaminants while allowing for seamless movement of goods and personnel.
- Secondary containment behind doors: PVC strips can be installed behind powered or manual doors to provide an additional layer of insulation, zone control, or biosecurity — without obstructing workflow.
By integrating PVC strips strategically throughout the facility, food manufacturers and distributors can uphold sanitation standards while improving operational efficiency.
Choosing the right PVC means choosing safety
Extruflex “Food Contact” PVC is specifically engineered for use in the most demanding food industry settings. Compliant European regulations, and supported with full traceability and compliance documentation, our products deliver the performance and peace of mind your facility needs.
Preparing for a food safety audit or choosing materials for a new installation?
Get in touch with the Extruflex team for documentation, samples, or technical guidance tailored to your facility.