21 March 2019

Food Contact News

EUROPE

FRANCE TO AMEND RUBBER FCM RULES
France notifies EU Commission of intent to amend rules on rubber in contact with food and pacifiers for infants

The French National Assembly informs about France’s notification to the European Commission (EC) of planned amendments to rules on rubber materials and articles intended to come in contact with foodstuffs, as well as on pacifiers for infants. According to the notification, the amendments will: update the lists of authorized components as well as the restrictions and specifications applicable to these components; adapt methods for verifying the conformity of rubber materials and articles; specify the obligations relating to technical documentation and provide a model for the declaration of conformity.

ASIA

JAPAN’S REGULATION OF FOOD CONTACT MATERIALS – A STEP CLOSER TO THE NEW POSITIVE LIST SYSTEM
Proposed evaluation procedures of food contact substances in Japan opened for public comment; efforts continue towards creation of positive list of substances, set to come into force in June 2020

In furtherance of its goal to develop a formal “Positive List” system for food-contact materials, the Food Safety Commission of Japan (FSCJ) has released for public comment its proposed evaluation procedures for food-contact substances (FCS) that are not included on Japan’s current Positive List. Japan’s regulatory framework for food packaging historically has combined government regulations, based on the Food Sanitation Act of 1947 and amendments.
The current effort is intended to replace some voluntary standards, mostly focused on polymers, with a system that will require the substances to be used in food-contact materials to be cleared by the government and not solely an industry trade group. MHLW is now in the process of compiling a positive list of substances permitted for use in plastic food-contact materials, starting first with food-contact plastic resins. When the new law takes effect, which is scheduled for June 2020,
compositional compliance with the forthcoming Positive List system will be mandatory for resins marketed or used in contact with food in Japan.