Food Contact Materials | Monthly bulletin | September 2019
Amendment of Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on food contact plastic materials
On 9th August 2019, the European Commission published:
COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) 2019/1338 of 8 August 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food
Below a summary table with recent regulation proposals notified to European Commission (Non-exhaustive):
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Notification number |
Countries |
Title |
|
Netherlands |
Decree of [date to be inserted] amending the 2014 Packaging Management Decree regarding the inclusion of a target for the separate collection of plastic beverage bottles and amendments to the provisions on deposits for beverage packaging (Decree on measures for plastic beverage bottles)
The draft measure requires:
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France |
Decree on the prohibition of certain single-use plastic products
The draft decree provides the definitions and characteristics of single-use plastic products covered by the prohibitions on provision. The prohibitions will come into force gradually; in 2020 for some products, in 2021 for others, in accordance with Directive 2019/904 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment |
Below a summary table with some recent standards updates and upcoming dates of withdrawal (non-exhaustive):
(*) Date of availability: date when the definitive text in the official language versions of an approved CEN/CENELEC publication is distributed by the Central Secretariat.
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Reference |
Title |
Date of Available (*) |
Supersedes |
|
Mapping of Future needs of standardisation in the paper and board sector for food contact applications |
2019-07-03 |
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For a safe Paper and cardboard packaging
On 25th July 2019, the European Consumer Organization (BEUC) published a report about food packaging made of colored paper and cardboard.
Laboratory test results contained in this report, indicate found chemicals in products such as coffee cups and straws which may be contained and released originating from the inks.
Paper is the second most used food packaging material and the alternative to plastic. For this reason BEUC makes a call to European Commission to have this material in contact with food regulated.
Click here for reading the BEUC’s publication.
Less Toxic chemicals at home
On 16th July 2019, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) published its report about toxic chemicals around us at home.
One of the main points of this report makes reference to chemical substances in food contact materials.
EAC recommends that manufactures and importers are more transparent about the chemicals used and and recommends UK Government to ban the use of some chemicals in food contact materials.
Standards updates
Below a summary table with some recent ASTM standards updates:
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Reference |
Title |
|
Standard Test Method for Lead and Cadmium Extracted from Glazed Ceramic Tile |
New substances added to FDA inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances
The following substances have been recently added to the Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS) Notifications of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
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FCN number |
Substances |
Date |
|
Phosphorous acid, cyclic neopentanetetrayl bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenyl) ester (CAS Reg. No. 26741-53-7) |
Jun 25, 2019 |
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An aqueous mixture of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) (CAS Reg. No. 79-21-0), hydrogen peroxide (HP) (CAS Reg. No. 7722-84-1), acetic acid (AA) (CAS Reg. No. 64-19-7), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) (CAS Reg. No. 2809-21-4), and optionally sulfuric acid (SA) (CAS Reg. No. 7664-93-9) |
Jun 25, 2019 |
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2-(dimethylamino)ethanol (CAS Reg. No. 108-01-0) |
Jun 15, 2019 |
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Silver-magnesium-zinc-aluminum-calcium-sodium-borate-phosphate glass |
Jun 5, 2019 |
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N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl(C13-C15) amine (CAS Reg. No. 70955-14-5) |
Jun 4, 2019 |
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N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl(C13-C15) amine (CAS Reg. No. 70955-14-5) |
Jun 4, 2019 |
New and expanded use of additives for food contact materials
On 22nd July 2019, the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China published an Announcement which approved eight new food contact substances:
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Food contact additive with expanded scope |
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Product name |
CAS number |
Scope of use |
Maximum usage / % |
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Sodium acetate |
127-09-3 |
Plastic: ethylene - vinyl alcohol copolymer ( EVOH ) |
Appropriate level |
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Phosphoric acid |
7664-38-2 |
Plastic: ethylene - vinyl alcohol copolymer ( EVOH ) |
Appropriate level |
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Potassium dihydrogen phosphate |
7778-77-0 |
Plastic: ethylene - vinyl alcohol copolymer ( EVOH ) |
Appropriate level |
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New food contact additive |
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Product name |
CAS number |
Scope of use |
Maximum usage / % |
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Oxirane, (chloromethyl)-, polymer with 4,4'-methylenebis[2,6-dimethylphenol] |
113693-69-9 |
Coating and coating film |
Appropriate level |
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New food contact resin |
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Product name |
CAS number |
Scope of use |
Maximum usage / % |
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Formaldehyde, polymer with 2-methylphenol, 3-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol, butyl ether |
298689-79-9 |
Coating and coating film |
5 |
|
Vinyl chloride- vinyl acetate- maleic acid terpolymer |
9005-09-8 |
Coating and coating film |
4.5 |
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1,4-cyclohexamedimethanol polymer with trimethylol propane, neopentyl glycol, adipic acid, isophthalic acid and maleic anhydride |
- |
Coating and coating film |
65 |
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Formaldehyde, polymer with 4,4'-(1-methylethylidene)bis[phenol] |
25085-75-0 |
Coating and coating film |
10 |
Publication of positive list of additives in materials in contact with food
On 15th July 2019, the Common Market of the South (Mercosur) published technical regulation Nº 39/19 on positive list of additives with restrictions of use and specifications for the elaboration of plastic materials and polymer coatings intended to be in contact with food. It repeals GMC resolution no. 07/32.
Regulatory updates
Below a summary table with some recent regulation proposals notified to World Trade Organization:
|
Notification number |
Countries |
Title |
|
Japan |
Revision of the Standards and Specifications for Foods and Food Additives under the Food Sanitation Act
Establishment of specifications and standards for utensils, containers, and packaging made of synthetic resins |
Below you will find a monthly summary of product recalls and alerts in Europe (Source “RASFF”) and in the US (Source “CPSC”).
Europe
RASFF (European Commission Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed - Alerts reported by EU national authorities).
The following 26 alerts regarding Food contact materials have been reported, from 15th July until 20th August of 2019.
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Product |
Substance / Hazard |
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Stainless steel and nylon pliers |
Absence of certified analytical report |
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Drinking bottle |
Deterioration of organoleptic characteristics (strong off-odour and off-taste) of food in contact with drinking bottle |
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Vegetable cutter |
Material abrading |
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Ceramic slow cooker |
Migration of aluminium (85 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Tajine plate and cover |
Migration of arsenic (0.024 mg/l) and of aluminium (7.1 mg/l) |
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Plastic cups |
Migration of benzophenone (2.1 mg/kg - ppm) and of 4-methylbenzophenone (0.12 mg/kg - ppm |
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Set of glasses |
Migration of cadmium (1.95 mg/item) and of lead (39 mg/item) |
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Steak knife |
Migration of chromium (0.6 mg/kg – ppm) |
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Kitchen knives |
Migration of chromium (4.8; 5.3; 5.2 mg/kg - ppm) and of nickel (0.9; 0.99; 1.0 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Bamboo fiber bowls |
Migration of formaldehyde (108.54; 187.54; 121.12 mg/kg - ppm) and of melamine (5.09; 7.78; 8.4 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Dinner set |
Migration of formaldehyde (24.6 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Bamboo fibre tableware |
Migration of formaldehyde (29 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Wooden bowls |
Migration of formaldehyde (317 mg/kg - ppm) and of melamine (7.5 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Large cup |
Migration of formaldehyde (35, 32, 73 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Bamboo coffee mug |
Migration of formaldehyde (60.5 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Bamboo cup with lid |
Migration of formaldehyde (62 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Bamboo fiber mugs |
Migration of formaldehyde (up to 23.0 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Porcelain plates |
Migration of lead (0.83; 0.88; 0.85; 1.08; 0.74 mg/dm²) |
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Melamine plastic cups |
Migration of melamine (2.81; 3.02 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Tableware set for children |
Migration of melamine (2.9 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Meal set |
Migration of melamine (8 mg/kg – ppm) |
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Chromed steel grid |
Migration of nickel (0.7 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Paper/plastic foil |
Migration of primary aromatic amines (0.043 mg/kg - ppm) |
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Nylon kitchenware |
Migration of primary aromatic amines (104 µg/kg - ppb) |
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Plastic ladle with silicone handle |
Migration of primary aromatic amines (up to 270 µg/kg - ppb) |
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Kitchen cooking set |
Too high level of overall migration (10.1 mg/dm²) |
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From on 21st July to 20th August 2019, CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 0 recalls regarding Food contact materials.
