Eurofins | Newsflash - August 2018 | Food Contact Materials

Europe

New guide on nanoscience and nanotechnologies

On 4^th July 2018, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published the “Guidance on risk assessment of the application of nanoscience and nanotechnologies in the food and feed chain: Part 1, human and animal health” after the public consultation did during the first quarter of this year. Now it is in pilot phase and it will be finished by the end of 2019.
The aim of this guidance is to help to evaluate the safety of nano-applications in areas as food contact materials, food and additives, pesticides and novel foods.

Click here for getting the guidance through the EFSA website.

Europe

EFSA opinion on PET recycling processes

On 13^th July, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) published two scientific opinions about the PET recycling process Gneuss 1 (EU register Nº RECYC0143) and Gneuss 2 (EU register Nº RECYC0144) used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.

According to EFSA: “It was demonstrated that these 2 recycling processes are able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the recycled PET obtained from the process Gneuss 1and Gneuss 2 intended for the manufacture of articles made with up to 100% recycled post‐consumer PET and intended for contact for long‐term storage at room temperature with all types of foodstuffs is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used, and should not be used, in microwave and conventional ovens”.

Europe

New EFSA Scientific opinion for food contact materials

On 20^th July, EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) published the Safety assessment of the substance Poly ((R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) for use in food contact materials.

EFSA concluded that the substance poly((R)‐3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐(R)‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) is not of safety concern if used alone or in blends with other polymers for contact with dry/solid food.

Click here for getting the opinion through the EFSA website.

Germany

New Packaging law to improve the Circular Economy

The next 1^st January 2019 Germany’s new packaging law will be become effective. The aim of this law is to improve recycling rates of packaging and to prevent packaging waste.

The legislation applies to all manufacturers, importers, distributors and online retailers placing goods on the German market.
Retailers will have to mark store shelves indicating if beverage packaging is reusable or disposable or not.

Another requirement is the registration of the company in a centralized packaging registry (www.verpackungsregister.com) before dispatching packaged goods into commerce.

Click here for getting the Draft Law on the Development of Households Separate collection of recyclable waste (in German).

China

CFSA proposed public consultation regarding 3 new evaluated food contact additives and monomer

On July 10, 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:

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

No.	CAS#	Substance
1	6408-72-6	C.I. Disperse Violet 26;Disperse Violet H-FRL;1,4-diamino-2,3-diphenoxyanthraquinone

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

No.	CAS#	Substance
2	-	Urea polymer with formaldehyde and bisphenol A
3	25214-81-7	Polymer of isophthalic acid, terephthalic acid, sebacic acid and butane-1,4-diol

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

China

The National food safety standard online search platform officially launched

On June, 2018, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) launched a platform for searching national food safety standards’ corrigendum online, including food, food additives, health foods and food contact materials.

Access to this website can be found here (in Chinese).

New substances for the FDA inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances

In June 2018, the following substances were added to the Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS) Notifications of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

FCN number	Substances	Date
1884	2,5-Furandione, polymer with 1-propene (CAS Reg. No 25722-45-6).	June 28, 2018
1880	1,3-Benzenedicarboxamide, N,N'-bis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl) (CAS Reg. No. 42774-15-2).	June 12, 2018
1879	Mixed esters of C5-C12 fatty acids with dipentaerythritol and/or pentaerythritol.	June 12, 2018
1878	A copolyester made from dimethyl terephthalate (DMT), ethylene glycol (EG), and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol (TMCD).	June 8, 2018
1867	An aqueous mixture of peroxyacetic acid (PAA) (CAS Reg. No. 79-21-0), hydrogen peroxide (HP) (CAS Reg. No. 7722-84-1), acetic acid (CAS Reg. No. 64-19-7), 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) (CAS Reg. No. 2809-21-4), and sulfuric acid (CAS Reg. No. 7664-93-9).	June 9, 2018

Click here for going to the Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications list.

Brazil

New technical requirements for cellulosic food contact materials

On 30^th June, the transition period to adjust to the new requirements for cellulosic food contact materials expired. The technical requirements were published in the Brazil’s Official Gazette in 2016:

RESOLUTION A - DRC No. 88, OF JUNE 29, 2016
(in Portuguese)
Approves the technical regulation on materials, packaging and cellulosic equipment destined to contact food and gives other measures.
RESOLUTION A - DRC No. 89, OF JUNE 29, 2016
(in Portuguese)
Approves the technical regulation on cellulosic materials for cooking and hot filtration and makes other provisions.
RESOLUTION A - DRC No. 90, OF JUNE 29, 2016
(in Portuguese)
Approves the technical regulation on materials, packaging and cellulosic equipment intended to come into contact with food during cooking or heating in the oven and makes other arrangements.