Eurofins | Newsflash - October 2018 | Food Contact Materials

Europe

New Review of Bisphenol A (BPA)

In September, a working group under EFSA began to evaluate the latest toxicological data on CAS No. 80-05-7, Bisphenol A. The evaluation will include studies and data published between December 2012 and October 2018, with the purpose to assess whether the temporary limit for the tolerable daily intake of 4 μg / kg body weight is correct. The revision of the limit value is expected to be completed by 2020.

For more information here.

Europe

Public consultation on 18 substances proposed to be approved under REACH

On 5^th September 2018, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published its ninth recommendation of substances to be included in Annex XIV to the REACH (Authorisation list).
The list includes Bisphenol A (CAS No. 80-05-7) and 2-ethylhexyl-10-ethyl-4,4-dioctyl-7-oxo-8-oxa-3,5-dithia-4-stannate decanoate (CAS No. 15571-58-1). Both substances are contained in Annex 1 of Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 applicable to plastic for contact with food.

Other recommended substances relevant to food contact materials are cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic anhydride and isomers (CAS No. 85-42-7), hexahydromethylphthalic anhydride and isomers (CAS No. 25550-51-0), 2-Methoxyethanol (CAS No. 109-86-4) and 2-ethoxyethanol (CAS No. 110-80-5).

If a substance is listed on the authorisation list, it may only be placed on the market or used after a given date if the intended use is authorized. Companies that use, manufacture or import these substances may apply for authorisation. A public hearing to comment on ECHA's proposal is open until 5 December 2018.

For more information here.

Europe

Stakeholder meeting on food contact materials legislation

On 24^th September, the European Commission in Brussels held a stakeholder meeting on the legislation on food contact materials.

The meeting was held as part of the Better Regulation Initiative, focusing on compliance with legislation so as to ensure that it fulfills its purpose as best as possible.

The meeting focused on the problems with the legislation in the current form, so that a strategy for how legislation can be updated can be forwarded so that it will fulfill its purpose better.

All documents from the meeting - including a web streaming - can be found on the Commission's evaluation website. The presentations will also be posted on the website during the next couple of weeks.

The evaluation website can be found here.

US - San Francisco

PFAS ban in single-use food service ware

On 8^th August 2018, the City of San Francisco approved Ordinance Nº 201-18 (File No. 180519).

This Ordinance bans the sale of food service ware that contains fluorinated chemicals (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)), polystyrene foam and other materials that are not either compostable or recyclable. The polystyrene foam ban takes effect on January 1, 2019, while the other bans will become effective on January 1, 2020.

Now San Francisco , California, Washington, Rhode Island and State of New York have regulations for the use of PFAS.

US - California

California Proposition 65 reformulations (September, 2018)

California Proposition 65 is the ‘Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986’, which has been effective for almost 30 years. Due to the implement of California Proposition 65, more and more court cases are settled to reduce the exposure of carcinogenic and reproductive chemicals by reformulating the consumer products containing such chemicals.

In order to keep retailers and manufacturers up-to-date, the highlights of the consent agreement are summarized as below:

Product	Chemical	Limit	Case No
Clear plastic tips utilized on food skewer products	DEHP, DBP and DINP	1000ppm Products exceed the limit shall utilize a warning statement	Out of court
Angle tongs	DEHP and DINP	1000ppm Products exceed the limit shall utilize a warning statement	Out of court

China

CFSA proposed public consultation regarding 8 new evaluated food contact additives and monomer

On August 17, 2018, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) launched a public consultation on safety evaluation of some new additives and monomer.
An overview of the new evaluated substances can be found as follows:

Five food contact additives are allowed to be used as additives for manufacturing food contact materials and articles

No.	CAS#	Substance
1	42774-15-2	1,3-Benzenedicarboxamide,N,N'-bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperdinyl)
2	1440528-04-0	Copolymer of 2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate with 3,3,4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,8-tridecafluorooctyl methacrylate, N-oxide, acetate
3	250640-08-5	C.I. Pigment orange 79; Benzoic acid, 4-[(2-hydroxy-6-sulfo-1 naphthalenyl)azo]-, strontium salt (2:1)
4	118685-25-9	ormaldehyde, polymer with 2-methylphenol, Bu ether
5	67700-45-2	Rosin, polymer with formaldehyde and phenol

One food contact additive is expanded in terms of scope and usage

No.	CAS#	Substance
6	1038843-64-9	Terephthalic acid, polymer with 1,4:3,6-dianhydro-D-glucitol, 4-cyclohexanedimethanol and 1,2-ethanediol

Two new resins are allowed to be used as food contact resins

No.	CAS#	Substance
7	66027-02-9	1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, polymer with 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-butanediol and hexanedioic acid
8	-	2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with 1,4-benzenediol, 2 (chloromethyl)oxirane, ethenylbenzene, ethyl 2-propenoate and 4,4’ -methylenebis[2,6-dimethylphenol], reaction products with 2 (dimethylamino)ethanol

The complete notification can be found here (in Chinese).

China

NHC proposed public consultation regarding new food contact material and article standard

On Sep. 14^th 2018, China National Health Commission (NHC) launched a public consultation on new national food contact safety standards regarding test methods for migration of 1, 4-Butanediol, acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, the public consultation will last for 1 month, until Oct. 31^st 2018.

The complete notification can be found here (in Chinese).

China

New Standards Release

Below a summary table with some recent standards release.

Reference	Title	Date of Release	Date of Enforcement
GB/T 36793-2018	Determination of platicizers in rubber-plastics—Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method	2018-09-17	2019-04-01
GB/T 36796-2018	Rubber latex gloves for food services—Limits for extractable substances	2018-09-17	2019-04-01

Korea

BPA and phthalates ban in food contact materials for children

On 4^th September 2018, the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety notified the Proposed amendments to the Standards and Specifications for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages to the World Trade Organization with reference G/SPS/N/KOR/614.

The aim is to ban the following substances in food utensils, containers and packages for infants and young children:

Bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7)
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP, CAS 84-74-2)
Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, CAS 85-68-7)

It will enter in force in January 2020.