Non-plastic food contact material: bridging the knowledge gap

Plastics and some ceramics used in food contact materials are regulated at European level and evaluated by EFSA for safety but a wide range of other materials – coatings, paper and board, adhesives, printing inks and rubber – are not. Small traces of these materials used in packaging and other articles can enter food and may pose a potential health risk to consumers. There is a lack of detailed science information about many of the substances found in these materials that makes this area of food safety particularly challenging. Some Member States do safety evaluations of non-plastic materials and have established national “positive lists” of authorised substances. EFSA set up an expert network to pool expertise, knowledge and information in this area (EFSA Feature Story, 13 May 2015).
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Click here for more information about the online NVC E-Workshop Food Contact Materials Legislation.

If you have any questions about this subject, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411. This item is also included in our monthly overview, the NVC Members-only Update.