CERTIFICATIONS
As a testament to our pursuit of quality production, we’ve secured several certifications from globally-reputable organizations
SGS test
Intertek test
EU food test
LARBO controls barware quality through four checkpoints — incoming material verification, in-process inspection, finished-product sampling and pre-shipment review. For food-contact markets we work to LFGB, EU 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR and California Prop 65 requirements. Certification testing is carried out by accredited laboratories — SGS, TÜV, Intertek and Bureau Veritas — and we arrange and manage it on your behalf; the laboratory fee is quoted separately.
What certifications apply to barware in your market?
Barware sits at the intersection of a food-contact article and a consumer product, so the rulebook changes with your destination market. A cocktail shaker sold in Germany is assessed under a different framework than the same shaker sold in California. We match the compliance route to your import country rather than issuing one generic certificate.
| Regulation | Market | What it governs | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| LFGB (§30/31 LMBG) | Germany, widely accepted in EU | Overall and specific migration, sensory transfer | Metal, silicone, plastic components |
| EU Regulation 10/2011 | European Union | Migration limits for plastics and coatings | Plastic parts, internal lacquers |
| FDA 21 CFR | United States | Food-contact substance compliance | Stainless steel, coatings |
| California Prop 65 | California, USA | Listed substance disclosure (lead, cadmium) | All consumer barware |
| REACH SVHC | European Union | Substance of very high concern screening | All materials and surface treatments |
Our current third-party test reports on file include Report No. NGBHL26003106301, issued by SGS, 2026, and Report No. T-24364588-11-R, issued by QIMA, 2026. Where a report’s scope already matches your product and market we share it directly; where it does not, we arrange the specific test your market requires.
What does food-contact testing actually check?
A “food-safe” claim on barware is not a single test — it is a set of migration and composition tests run against a food simulant. Below is what a typical LARBO test package covers for stainless steel drinkware and bar tools.
| Test item | What it detects | Typical limit basis |
|---|---|---|
| Overall migration | Total substance transfer into food simulant | 10 mg/dm² (EU 10/2011) |
| Heavy metal specific migration | Lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium | Per EU 10/2011 Annex I |
| Nickel release | Nickel leaching from stainless steel and plating | REACH Annex XVII, entry 27 |
| Sensory (odour and taste) | Off-odour or taint transferred to contents | LFGB §31 — no detectable taint |
| Coating adhesion | PVD or lacquer flaking under abrasion | Internal abrasion standard |
Which stainless steel grades do we use, and why?
304 is our standard grade. Unless you specify otherwise, every drink-contact surface — shaker bodies, jiggers, bar spoons, mule mug liners, strainers and tongs — is manufactured in 304 stainless steel. We hold 316 and 201 as options for specific briefs, but they are the exception, not the default.
Grade selection is the single biggest lever on both compliance and unit cost. Specifying a higher grade than the product needs inflates cost; specifying too low invites corrosion complaints from end customers.
| Grade | Corrosion resistance | Typical use at LARBO | Cost index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 304 (18/8) — standard | High — the food-contact default | Our default grade for every drink-contact surface: shaker bodies, jiggers, bar spoons, mule mug liners, strainers, tongs | 1.0x (baseline) |
| 316 (18/10 + Mo) | Highest — chloride and salt resistant | Quoted on request for coastal, marine or high-chloride service; not a stock grade | About 1.3–1.5x |
| 201 (austenitic, Cr-Mn-Ni) | Moderate — below 304, not for prolonged acidic or salt contact | Only where a buyer asks for it on a cost-led programme: outer shells, decorative parts, non-drink-contact components | About 0.6–0.7x |
One point worth stating plainly.Grade 201 is a nickel-reduced austenitic steel in which manganese partially replaces nickel: it keeps an austenitic structure (non-magnetic when annealed) and good formability at a lower cost, but it sits below 304 for corrosion resistance, so we only use it when a buyer asks for it on a cost-led programme, and never for a surface that holds a drink.
How is quality controlled during production?
Inspection happens at four fixed points. Each checkpoint generates a written record that we retain against the batch number, so a complaint two years later can still be traced to a specific melt, operator and packing date.
| Checkpoint | What is checked | Record produced |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Incoming material | Steel grade certificate, thickness, surface defect | Mill certificate + incoming report |
| 2. In-process | Forming tolerance, weld integrity, thread fit | Line inspection sheet |
| 3. Finished product | Logo placement, finish consistency, leak test | AQL 2.5 sampling report |
| 4. Pre-shipment | Carton count, packing integrity, label accuracy | Final inspection + photo set |
How is third-party testing arranged, and who pays for it?
We arrange it — the laboratory fee is quoted separately. Because each certificate is issued against a specific product and market, there is no generic stock certificate to hand out. We prepare the samples, submit them to an accredited laboratory (SGS, TÜV, Intertek or Bureau Veritas) and manage the process through to the report. The fee is normally carried by the buyer and can be folded into the order once the programme is confirmed. Reports already on file for a matching product family are shared at no charge. Sample lead time is approximately 15 days, and sampling is free for qualified wholesale enquiries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are your products food-safe?
Yes. Products intended for drink contact are manufactured in 304 stainless steel as standard, and can be tested against LFGB, EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR requirements. 316 is available on request where the service environment calls for it. Test reports are issued by accredited third-party laboratories — those currently on file are from SGS and QIMA. We arrange the testing and the laboratory fee is quoted separately, since each certificate covers a specific product and market.
What certifications can you comply with?
We routinely support LFGB, EU Regulation 10/2011, FDA 21 CFR, California Prop 65 and REACH SVHC screening. For markets with additional national requirements, we commission the specific test your importer or retailer demands.
Do you perform inspections on every order?
Every production order passes four checkpoints: incoming material, in-process, finished-product sampling and pre-shipment review. A written record is retained against each batch number for traceability.
Can I appoint my own third-party inspector?
Yes. We regularly host inspectors from SGS, TÜV, Intertek and Bureau Veritas at the Yongkang facility. We will provide the production schedule so your inspector can attend at the checkpoint you care about most.
How is a quality complaint handled?
Because each batch carries a traceable record, we can identify the material lot and production date behind a complaint. Confirmed manufacturing defects are resolved by replacement or credit, agreed per order contract.
Can copper mugs be made food-safe?
Yes, when the drinking surface is lined. Our pure-copper and copper-plated mugs use a food-grade stainless steel or nickel liner so that the beverage never contacts bare copper. Unlined copper is supplied for decorative use only.
Need compliance documentation for your market?
Tell us your destination country and product type — we will tell you which tests your market requires, share any matching report we already hold, and arrange the rest with an accredited laboratory. We will also flag which of the four checkpoints carries the highest risk for your product type, so you know where to focus if you appoint your own inspector.