On June 9, 2017 the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) published the latest update of the meeting minutes of its Working Group on Food Contact Materials (WG-FCM). The 24th meeting of the WG-FCM was held on May 16-18, 2017 in Parma, Italy.
During the meeting, the WG-FCM discussed the draft opinion and noted changes for the substances [3-(2,3-epoxypropoxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane (CAS 2530-83-8) and dimethyl carbonate (CAS 616-38-6) to be used as monomers (or as an additive in the former case) in the manufacture of plastic FCMs. Additional information on the substances had been received from the applicants upon request by EFSA. Regarding the first substance, the WG-FCM “identified issues for clarification to be further discussed at the next WG meeting.” Regarding the second substance, the WG-FCM noted that “the revised draft opinion will be scheduled for discussion and possible adoption by the CEF Panel.”
Further, the WG-FCM discussed the dossiers received for the following substances: Isobutane (CAS 75-28-5) to be used as an additive in plastic FCMs, active mixture Spongel (use not specified; no CAS number available), and selenium nanoparticles (CAS 7782-49-2) to be used as an active substance in FCMs. The WG-FCM noted that it requires additional information from the applicants to complete the risk assessments and therefore has temporarily suspended the scientific evaluations.
EFSA’s WG on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) informed the WG-FCM about the progress made in providing “scientific technical assistance to the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) on chemical contaminants” as requested by the European Commission (EC) (FPF reported). The WG-RASFF asked to receive comments from the WG-FCM regarding “the proposed methodology for assessing exceedance of legal limits and substances with potential concern.”
Bastiaan Schupp from the EC’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) updated the WG-FCM on “the state of play of printed food contact materials and the possible ways to get them regulated in the near future.” No further detailed information on the matter was provided in the meeting minutes.
Lastly, regarding the trial phase for the implementation of EFSA’s uncertainty guidance, the WG-FCM noted that it has completed “the work material on their experiences on the uncertainty trial” and will present the documents at a workshop on uncertainty to be held by EFSA’s Scientific Committee on June 22-23, 2017.
The next meeting of the WG-FCM is scheduled to take place on June 27-28, 2017.
Read more
CEF (June 9, 2017). “Minutes of the 24th meeting of the Working Group on Food Contact Materials 2014-2017.” (pdf)
