Food legislation and food safety – January 2022
Food Contact Materials (FCMs) – rules and regulations
EU: EFSA is proposing to considerably lower the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of BPA. A draft scientific opinion is open for public consultation until 22 February 2022 (extended deadline). FPF reports that the EC has adopted a new regulation recognising the endocrine disrupting properties of four phthalates within the Authorisation List of REACH. As a consequence, these phthalates are no longer exempt from the authorisation requirement for uses in FCMs. FPF also reports that the EC has announced a draft act on updating EU regulations to simplify the development, certification, and use of recycled plastic in FCMs. The EC has also notified (85 kB) the WTO. FEFCO has developed a methodology (717 kB) for compliance testing of printed corrugated board used in food applications. Smithers has published an article on the future of EU FCM legislation that you can download after filling in your details. Foodwatch has tested food products from a number of EU countries. The results (7.55 MB) show that one in eight food products tested contain MOAH. Canada: Stina recently published Assessing the state of food grade recycled resin in Canada and the United States (2.39 MB). China: Keller and Heckman reports that the government is requesting comments on four FCMs. Germany: SGS reports that the government has published its Twenty-First Regulation (in German, 636 kB) amending the Consumer Goods Ordinance BedGgstV (in German) to regulate printing inks and varnishes in FCMs. The provisions will become effective on 1 January 2026. South Korea: SGS reports that the government has published its latest specifications for FCMs. US: FPF reports that the national Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act (24 kB) has been introduced. A recent article by Keller and Heckman gives a state overview of PFAS bans in FCMs. A recently introduce bill (63 kB) would ban BPA in food containers in Pennsylvania. FPF reports that Earthjustice has sued (352 kB) the FDA over the failure to act on a 2016 petition to ban the use of phthalates in FCMs.
Marking and labelling
EU: The EC has opened public consultations on the rules on labelling alcoholic beverages, on labelling information to help consumers make healthier and more sustainable food choices and on nutrition profiles for nutrition and health claims. The EC recently published the results of an EU-wide survey about herbs and spices authenticity. Australia: The government has announced a consultation on the organic regulatory framework, including a mandatory standard for use of the word ‘organic.’ NL: According to research (in Dutch, 2.73 MB) by the Trimbos Institute (in Dutch), mandatory labelling of product and health information on alcoholic beverages leads to less alcohol consumption. In a letter (in Dutch, 266 kB) to the Dutch House, Minister Schouten writes that many stores are choosing to sell only pre-packaged organic products so that they are exempt from the notification and certification requirement under the new Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products. A sticker or a laser print are not considered packaging. As of February 1, 2022, Skal will start supervising outlets that have not signed up for certification. US: The FDA states that as of January 2022, certain types of GMOs need to be labelled as a bioengineered food. A new study by ACAAI, published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (abstract), finds that better labelling of sesame in food is needed to avoid allergic reactions.
NVWA updates Dutch handbook on rules for nutrition for vulnerable people
The NVWA recently updated their handbook (in Dutch) on regulation of nutrition for specific groups: infants, young children, sick people and people with overweight.
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