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Eurofins >> Consumer Product Testing >> Media Centre >> News >> Food Contact Materials | Monthly bulletin | January 2020

Food Contact Materials | Monthly bulletin | January 2020

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Eurofins newsflash Food Contact Materials

 

Switzerland

 

Alignment of Swiss and European legislation for food contact materials 

 

On 5th November 2019, Swiss confederation published Official Collection 2019 - 3371 with the aim to align Swiss Ordinance on materials and objects intended to come into contact with foodstuffs with European legislation about food contact materials.

 

It came into effect on December 1, 2019.

 

The amendment is in different languages (German, french and italian).

 

Europe

 

Regulatory updates

 

Please find below a table summarising recent regulation proposals notified to the European Commission (Non-exhaustive):

 

Notification number

Countries

Title

2019/584/RO

 

Romania

Order on the requirement for economic operators to ensure that consumers are correctly, fully and precisely informed regarding the risks associated with the use of single-use cutlery

 

It applies to single-use cutlery intended for consumers. Economic operators shall offer at least the following information by displaying it in the place in which the products are being marketed and on the packaging:

 

  1. The key of the symbols used
  2. The risk of deterioration during use
  3. The fact that the products may be used by minors under the close supervision of an adult

The information is to be presented in a clear, easily understandable and readable manner, in Romanian, although this does not exclude the additional use of other languages

 

EFSA scientific outputs and others publications

 

Please find below a table summarising recent updates to risk assessment, technical reports and others news published in the EFSA journal (Non-exhaustive):

 

Date

Title

29-11-2019

Update to the risk assessment of ‘wood flour and fibres, untreated’ (FCM No 96) for use in food contact materials, and criteria for future applications of materials from plant origin as additives for plastic food contact materials

06-12-2019

Call for technical and toxicological data on the substances N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl (C8-C18) amine (FCM No 19) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)alkyl (C8-C18) amine hydrochlorides (FCM No 20) for their use in plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, including in food for infants

10-12-2019

FAQ: phthalates in plastic food contact materials

11-12-2019

Technical report on the public consultation on the ‘Draft update of the risk assessment of di‐butylphthalate (DBP), butyl‐benzyl‐phthalate (BBP), bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di‐isononylphthalate (DINP) and di‐isodecylphthalate (DIDP) for use in food contact materials’

11-12-2019

Update of the risk assessment of di‐butylphthalate (DBP), butyl‐benzyl‐phthalate (BBP), bis(2‐ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), di‐isononylphthalate (DINP) and di‐isodecylphthalate (DIDP) for use in food contact materials

 

Technical publications

 

Please find below a table summarising with some recent technical publications on food contact materials (non-exhaustive):

 

Date

Countries

Entity

Title

25-11-2019

Germany

BfR

Do not use "bamboo ware" dishes for hot drinks or food

Opinion No. 047/2019

25-11-2019

Germany

BfR

Questions and answers about dishes and kitchen utensils made of melamine-formaldehyde resin

25-11-2019

Germany

BfR

Containers made of melamine-formaldehyde resin such as "Coffee to go" cups made of "Bam busware" can release substances into hot food that are harmful to health

Opinion No. 046/2019

Note: All publications are in Germany language

 

US – California

 

No more small plastic bottles in lodging establishments

 

On 9th October 2019, the California Governor approved Bill Nº 1162 on Lodging Establishments: small plastic bottles of personal care products.

 

The main takeaway is the requirement to prohibit the use of small plastic bottles that contain personal care products. This bill will become effective on 1st January 2023 with a transition period until 1 January 2024.

 

International

 

Regulatory proposals notified to WTO

 

See below a table summarising recent notifications to the World Trade Organization (non-exhaustive):

 

Notification number / Link

Country

Title

G/TBT/N/THA/561

Thailand

Draft Thai Industrial Standard for Nipples for Feeding Bottles (TIS 969 – 25XX(20XX)) (12 page(s), in Thai)

 

The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) has proposed to replace the standard TIS 969 – 2533 (1990) for Nipples for Feeding Bottles by the mandatory standard TIS 969-25XX(20XX). This standard specifies requirements for Nipples for Feeding Bottles for child use including scopes; definitions; materials; requirements; packaging; marking and labeling; sampling and criteria for conformity and testing

 

Product Recalls/Alerts

 

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 13 alerts regarding Food Contact Materials were reported from 21st November to 20th December of 2019.

 

Product

Substance / Hazard

Polyamide kitchenware

Migration of primary aromatic amines (63.6 µg/kg - ppb)

Details

Kitchen plastic glasses

Migration of formaldehyde

Details

Plastic cups

Migration of melamine (4.33; 4.79; 4.9 mg/l)

Details

Melamine children's tableware

Migration of formaldehyde (18.6 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Plastic plates

Migration of melamine (5.5 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Plastic mug

Migration of formaldehyde (19 mg/kg - ppm) and of melamine (9.4 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Baking traysc

Migration of iron (262.9 mg/kg - ppm) and too high level of overall migration (170 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Aluminium bottles with plastic caps

Too high level of overall migration (1.542 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Nylon kitchen utensils

Unfit for use as food contact material (risk of melting)

Details

Melamine fruit plate set

Migration of melamine (up to 4.85 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

BBQ grill

Migration of nickel (1.3; 1.9 mg/l)

Details

Steel cake moulds

Inner coating oxidized (rust)

Details

Steel strainers

Unfit for use as food contact material (steel AISI 201)

Details

 

US

 

From 21st November to 20th December 2019, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) has published the following recalls: 0 recall regarding Food Contact Materials.