China approves the use of 23 substances in food contact materials and articles

On 29 April 2016, Food Safety Standard and Supervision Assessment Division under National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China published Notification No. 5 on Safety Assessment Concerning Ammonium Carbamate and other 23 New Food-related Products. Pursuant to Law of Food Safety, Review Authorities organised experts to review the safety of those new products.
 
There are the following highlights in the notification:
1. The use of 15 substances including ammonium carbamate as additives is approved in food contact materials and articles;
2. The use scope and usage of two substances as additives are expanded in food contact materials and articles.
3.  The 1-Decene,polymer with 4-methyl-1-pentene is approved in resin as food contact materials and articles.
 
The notification also provides for the scope, maximum usage, specific migration limit and maximum residue for 23 substances.
 
It is noted that the following four substances are not allowed to be used in food contact materials and articles specifically for babies and young children:

• 2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, 2-oxiranylmethyl ester, polymer with ethene and ethenyl acetate
• 2-Propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, polymer with 2,2＇-[(1-methylethylidene)，bis (4,1-phenyleneoxymethylene)] bis [oxirane]
• Fatty acids, C18‐unsaturated, dimers, hydrogenated, polymers with 1,4‐cyclohexanedimethanol,ethylene glycol, hexahydro‐2‐oxo‐N‐[3,3,5‐trimethyl‐5‐[[tetrahydro‐3,5‐bis[(5‐isocyanato‐1,3,3‐trimethylcyclohexyl)methyl]‐2,4,6‐trioxo‐1,3,5‐triazin‐1(2H)‐yl] methyl]cyclohexyl]‐1H‐azepine‐1‐carboxamide, isophthalic acid and neopentyl glycol
• Terephthalic acid, polymer with 1,4:3,6- dianhydro-D-glucitol, 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol and 1,2-ethanediol

C&K Testing advises that imported food contact articles shall also comply with hygienic standards of China, otherwise they will be returned or destroyed by competent departments.