Eurofins | May 2019 regulatory Newsflash compilation | Food Contact Materials
No more single-use plastics in the oceans
On 27th March 2019, the European Parliament approved the ban of single-use plastics by 2021. The aim of this measure is to reduce the plastic marine litter.
The following products will be banned in the EU by 2021:
- Single-use plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks)
- Single-use plastic plates
- Plastic straws
- Cotton bud sticks made of plastic
- Plastic balloon sticks
- Oxo-degradable plastics and food containers and expanded polystyrene cups
Other requirements included in this ban, within others, are:
- Increasing recycling targets and responsibility for producers
- Labelling plastic products indicating to consumers how to safely dispose such items after use and to avoid littering.
- Ensuring that fishing gear and related components are safely disposed and not dumped into the sea
For further information about this matter click here.
Standards for paper and board in contact with foodstuffs (Date of withdrawal)
By 31st May 2019, national standards conflicting with the following standards about paper and board in contact with food have to be withdrawn:
| Reference | Title |
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Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs - Determination of colour fastness of dyed paper and board. |
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Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs - Determination of the fastness of fluorescent whitened paper and board. |
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Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs - Determination of the transfer of antimicrobial constituents. |
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).
| FCN number | Substances | Date |
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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 (CAS Reg. No. 64-19-7), 1-hydroxyethylidine-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP) (CAS Reg. No. 2809-21-4), and optionally sulfuric acid (CAS Reg. No. 7664-93-9). REPLACES FCN 1595. |
March 29, 2019 |
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1,6-Hexanediol (CAS Reg. No. 629-11-8). |
February 24 2019 |
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Octadecyl 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyhydrocinnamate (CAS Reg. No. 2082-79-3). |
March 29, 2019 |
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1,2,4,5,7,8-Hexoxonane, 3,6,9-trimethyl-, 3,6,9-tris(Et and Pr) derivs. (CAS Reg. No. 1613243-54-1). |
March 7, 2019 |
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Ethanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-2-[(1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)oxy]-, chloride (1:1), polymer with 2-propenamide (CAS Reg. No. 69418-26-4) with up to 0.06 mol % of poly(oxy-1,2-ethanediyl), alpha-(2-methyl-1-oxo-2-propen-1-yl)-omega-hydroxy-, C16-18-alkyl ethers (CAS Reg. No. 70879-51-5). |
March 11, 2019 |
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Phosphorous acid, mixed 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl and 4-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl triesters (CAS Reg. No. 939402-02-5). REPLACES FCN 1800. |
March 15, 2019 |
Proposal to designate PFOS as Priority Chemical in children’s products
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection has recently proposed a draft rule (“Chapter 890: designation of PFOS as priority chemical”). This chapter would designate perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (“PFOS”) as a priority chemical and would require reporting for certain children’s products containing PFOS.
No later than 180 days after the effective date of this chapter, or within 30 days of the sale of the children’s product within the State of Maine, manufacturers and distributors would be required to report to the Department if the regulated chemical is intentionally added to the following product categories and exceeds the practical quantification limit (PQL), pursuant to section 4(B) of this chapter with some exemptions:
- Childcare article
- Children’s clothing
- Children’s footwear
- Children’s sleepwear
- Children’s toy
- Cookware, tableware, reusable food and beverage containers
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Craft supplies
- Electronic device
- Household furniture and furnishings
The following information would have to be reported to the Department:
- Name and address of the manufacturer or distributor.
- Name, address, and phone number of a contact person for the manufacturer or distributor.
- A description of product that contain PFOS.
- Amount of PFOS in each unit of the product reported.
- Function of PFOS in the product reported.
- Number of product units sold or distributed in Maine.
- Any other relevant information.
Comments can be submitted by May 6, 2019. For more information, click here.
