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

Food Contact Materials | Monthly bulletin | May 2020

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Eurofins newsflash Food Contact Materials

 

Regulatory news

 


 

Europe

 

Technical publications

 

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

 

Date

Countries

Entity

Title

24/03/2020

Europe

European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC)

Applicability of Analytical Tools, Test Methods and Models for Polymer Risk Assessment

 

The second report of the ECETOC trilogy on polymer safety assessment looks at analytical tools, methods and models

17/02/2020

Holland

Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)

Plastic Pact Nederland : de Monitor Nulmeting (2017-2018)

 

This is the first report which outlines recycling potential and the use of recycled plastics in the years 2017 and 2018. These findings will serve as the baseline measurements from which the Dutch plastic pact’s goals, to be achieved by the year 2025, will be set

 

US

 

The use of PFAS in food packaging and containers

 

Currently the concern about per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) continues to grow due, in part, to their prevalence in the environment. In U.S., several states have taken actions to limit or ban their use often in food packaging. Please find below a table summarising bills introduced or progressed since the beginning of the year in relation to PFAS.

 

State

Bill code

Title

Description

Arizona

SB 1468

Food Packaging: Prohibitions

Prohibits the manufacture and sale of food packaging containing PFAS and/or phthalates. It would be effective January 1, 2023

Connecticut

H.B. 5291

An Act Limiting the Use of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Expanded Polystyrene in Food Packaging

Prohibits the manufacture and sale of food packaging containing PFAS if reasonable alternatives exist. It would be effective January 2022

Illinois

SB 3154

PFAS Reduction Act

Prohibits manufacture and sale of firefighting foam containing PFAS, prohibits use of PFAS foam for training purposes, prohibits the manufacture and sale of food packaging containing PFAS. It would be effective January 1, 2021

New Hampshire

HB 1425

 

Requires removal of all containers containing PFAS from schools and hospitals

Massachusetts

HD 3839

An Act to Ban the Use of PFAS in Food Packaging

The legislation would ban the manufacture and sale of food packaging to which PFASs had been intentionally added in any amount

Minnesota

SF 3225

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) use in food packaging regulation

Prohibits the manufacture and sale of food packaging containing PFAS. It would be effective January 1, 2021

New Jersey

A3350

An Act concerning the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging

Food packaging containing a PFAS chemical would be banned 18 months after DEP determines that a safer alternative is available and publishes its findings in the New Jersey Register

New York

S2000B

An Act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging

It would be effective December 31, 2021

Rhode Island

H 7307

An Act Relating to Health and Safety – PFAS in Food Packaging

Prohibits the use of PFAS in food packaging materials. It would be effective January 1, 2021

Virginia

HB 1712

Food Packaging; PFAS chemicals, penalty

Prohibits the sale of food packaging containing PFAS

Wisconsin

 AB 952

An Act relating to regulating certain chemicals in food packaging

Prohibits the manufacture and sale of food packaging containing PFAS if reasonable alternatives exist. It would be effective January 1, 2023

Others

Bill code

Title

Description

S.3227

Prevent Future American Sickness Act

It includes bans on use of PFAS in food packaging and containers. It would become effective January 1, 2022

S.1790

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020

It prohibits the use of PFAS in food packaging for military ready-to-eat meals (MREs) after October 1, 2021

 

Mexico

 

New standard for cookware with non-stick coating

 

On 11th March 2020, The Secretary of Economy of Mexico published a mandatory standard for cookware with non-stick coating (NOM-225-SCFI-2019). It shall come into effect on 7th September 2020. The main points include:

 

Scope

It establishes the minimum safety specifications and test methods for utensils that use non-stick coating that is in contact with food and intended for the preparation of food and which are made of aluminum, steel, stainless steel, iron, ceramic, glass or any other material, derived from materials outlined in this list

Exceptions

Accessories with non-stick coating whose main function is not cooking, frying and/or heating

Specifications

  • Material: Must not cause contamination of food
  • Nominal capacity no more than 5% less than the labelled value, or nominal diameter within ± 6 mm difference than value labelled
  • Knobs, handles and grips provided
  • Handle and grip materials extinguishable within 30 seconds
  • Heavy metal content of food contact materials: Lead ≤ 0.05% and cadmium ≤ 0.01%
  • Burnt food not adhering to non-stick coating
  • Having non-stick coating of at least 15 µm thick
  • Strong adherence of non-stick coating to the substrate; temperature of grips and handles not exceeding 55°C
  • Abrasion: Non-stick coating not eroding more than 35%
  • Thickness of substrate matches declared value

Commercial information

Requirements for labelling, instructions for use and warranty.

Conformity Assessment Procedure (PEC)

PEC will be carried out by the General Directorate of Standards and, where appropriate, by accredited and approved certification bodies in said regulation, in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Law on Metrology and Standardization, and its Regulation and according to one of the following models:

 

Model Description

I

Certification, verification and monitoring through periodic tests.

Validity: One year from date of issue

II

Certification and verification and monitoring through the quality control system of the production line

Validity: Three years from date of issue
III

Certification by batch

Validity shall cover the specified quantity of the batch of products only

 

International

 

Regulatory proposals notified to WTO

 

Please see the below table summarising the most recent notifications made to the World Trade Organization (WTO) (non-exhaustive):

 

Notification number

Countries

Title

G/TBT/N/CHN/1406

China

National Standard of the P.R.C., Beer bottles

This standard specifies the terms and definitions, product classification, requirements, test methods, inspection rules, marks, packaging, transportation and storage of glass beer bottles. This standard is applicable to glass bottles containing beer

 

Product Recalls / Alerts

 

Below you will find a monthly summary table 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 7 alerts regarding Food Contact Materials were reported from the 16th March 2020 to 15th April 2020.

 

Product

Substance / Hazard

Melamine plates

Migration of formaldehyde (42.8 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Drinking cups and plates

Migration of melamine (2.1; 5 mg/l)

Details

Kitchen set

Migration of melamine (3.81 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Melamine bowls

Migration of melamine (3.02 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Kitchen pots with lid

Migration of nickel (0.137 mg/kg - ppm)

Details

Teflon coated carbon steel baking trays

Migration of iron (590,8 mg/kg - ppm) and of manganese (1,13 mg/kg - ppm) and too high level of overall migration (285 mg/dm²)

Details

Cups

Attempt to illegally import cups made from a mix of bamboo fibers, melamine and maize starch

Details

 

US

 

From the 16th February 2020 to the 15th March 2020, the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) published the following recalls: 1 recall regarding Food Contact Materials.

 

Type of Risk

Countries

Notes

Laceration

1

Glass Pitchers with Wood Lid: The handle on the pitcher can break