Reading Ceramic Test Reports: SGS, LFGB and FDA Documents Without the Confusion

A Test Report Is a Language — Learn to Read It

Every ceramic buyer eventually faces a test report: an SGS lab sheet, an LFGB certificate, an FDA compliance letter. Most buyers glance at the logo, say "okay, it's certified" and move on. That is a gamble. A report is only as good as what it actually covers — and what it covers is hidden in the small print. This guide teaches you to read ceramic test reports like a QC professional: what each document proves, which numbers matter, and the questions that separate a real report from a decoration.

The Three Documents You Will Actually See

SGS report — a third-party test report from SGS (or similar labs: TÜV, Intertek, Bureau Veritas) showing measured results for specific tests. It is a *snapshot*: it proves this batch, tested on this date, met these limits.

LFGB certificate (Germany/EU) — food-contact compliance for Germany, widely treated as the EU benchmark. Covers lead/cadmium migration, and sometimes odor, colorfastness and heavy metals beyond lead/cadmium (the LFGB "sensory test" checks smell and taste).

FDA compliance (US) — ceramic ware exported to the US must meet FDA lead/cadmium release limits (also covered by California Prop 65 warnings). An FDA "certificate" is usually a test report showing results under the FDA limits, not a government document.

What none of them are: a license to print your logo on and forget. They certify a tested batch, a tested decoration, a tested glaze. Change the decoration, the color, the supplier's raw material — and the report stops being valid for your product.

The Numbers That Matter: Lead and Cadmium

For food-contact ceramic, the critical numbers are lead and cadmium migration (how much leaches into food), measured in mg/L or µg/L. Reference limits to know:

Two reading habits:

1. Compare the result to the limit, not to zero. A report saying "lead: 0.02" with a limit of "2.0" is a pass with 100x headroom — excellent. A report saying "lead: 1.4" with a limit of "1.5" is technically a pass with 7% headroom — a risk if the next batch drifts.
2. Check the ware type tested. Flatware (plates) has looser limits than hollowware (mugs) because less food contact area; make sure the report matches your product type. A plate report does not cover your mug.

Reading the Report: A 5-Step Scan

1. Who tested it? Is the lab accredited (ISO 17025) and the document number traceable? Call or look up the report number with the lab if you doubt it — fake reports exist.
2. What sample? Does the description match your product (model, decoration, glaze color)? A report on a plain white mug does not cover your decal-printed version.
3. Which standard? Which market's limits does it test against — EU 84/500/EEC, FDA, GB? Match it to your destination market.
4. What are the results vs the limits? Headroom matters. A result at 95% of the limit is a warning sign, not a pass.
5. When was it tested? Reports age. Glaze batches drift over time; a 3-year-old report tells you little about today's production. Ask for a report within 12 months of your order.

Questions to Ask Your Supplier

• "Is this report for the exact decoration and glaze of my order, or a similar product?"
• "Can you provide a report within 12 months, tested to EU (LFGB) and/or FDA limits?"
• "Will you test the production batch, or is this a type test from development?"
• "If I change the decal color or glaze, will you re-test?"
• "Do you hold the raw material from the tested batch for traceability?"

The Buyer's Decision Rule

Use reports as a filter, not a finish line. A real, current, product-matching report is a strong signal of a serious factory — keep it on file and show it to your customers. But treat it as a batch fact, not a permanent promise: if the decoration, glaze or raw material changes, ask for a re-test. And on your side, keep a copy of the report with the batch number in your records, so a customs or retailer question is answered in minutes, not weeks.

Reading reports is not technical overkill — it is the difference between buying a tested product and buying an assertion. Need a supplier whose reports match your market? Send us your target market and product type — we will quote with the relevant LFGB or FDA test documentation.