On 13, July 2017, the commission’s health directorate (DG Sante) exposited two credible options for an EU measure on food contact materials (FCMs), which aims to ensure the printing inks are within acceptable limits. These two options are based on meeting of directorate working group on FCMs. It is said that an EU measure expects to be in place by mid-2018.
The first option proposed by DG Sante would include a positive list of authorized substances, migration limits, and specific rules on how industry should document testing and verify compliance with law. That is to say, this traditional option is similar to the EU Regulation on plastic FCMs. However, it is warned that it would take decades to complete all the substance listed in printed FCMs. For example, Germany’s national ordinance on printing inks lists over 700 substances. While the positive list of compounds allowed in printing inks under the Swiss laws holds several thousands.
The second option would shift the responsibilities for ensuring compliance to “certain bodies”, such as laboratory or consultants like C&K Testing Technic. These bodies would identify migration substances in an FCM and perform the toxicology testing, then assess their risk and propose how they could be regulated. All the documents of substances would be stored in a central database, which could be accessed by related manufactures and members of their supply chain. In this option, EU Commission only provide legislation that outlines rules on substance hazards and exposure, risk assessment, system operation and daily work guidance, without releasing specific substance regulation.
Once EU Commission designates the second option, DG Sante would draft a new regulation, designate laboratories and consultants, which shall be ensured for third parties.
Both options above possibly apply to other food contact materials, which may change the framework of FCM regulation systems. At the present, food contact paper, board, coatings and adhesives are also under consideration. C&K Testing reminds FCM related enterprises should keep attention on its progress.
A opinion of European Commision on Food Contact Materials
New Swiss FCM regulations for plastics, silicone and printing inks take effect on 1 May – Reported by C&K Testing in January, 2017
Germany drafts an ordinance on printing inks – Reported by C&K Testing in July, 2016
|Our Services: Food and Food Contact Materials
Contact Us
Quick Navigation