On January 26, 2016 the UK-based advocacy group for chemical safety CHEM Trust published a policy briefing on chemicals in food contact materials (FCMs) on the occasion of the EU workshop on FCMs hosted by the European Parliament on the same date (FPF reported). In their briefing, CHEM Trust summarizes the current regulatory situation regarding FCMs in the EU and points out the key issues: There are gaps in FCM regulation at EU level, which results in insufficient protection of public health and an inefficient internal market. To tackle these issues, CHEM Trust recommends achieving a “fully harmonised system for regulating the use of chemicals in food contact materials.”
This includes:
1) More effective integration of FCM regulation with the European regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH),
2) a presumption against substances of very high concern (SVHCs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in FCMs and substitution of hazardous substances when safer alternatives are available,
3) a clear timeline to implement regulation for all types of FMCs, and
4) efforts to characterize, assess and reduce levels of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in FCMs.
On the same occasion, non-profit organization Health and Environment Alliance published a press release on regulation of FCMs (FPF reported).
Read more
Michael Warhurst (January 26, 2016). “Chemicals in food contact materials: A gap in the internal market, a failure in public protection.” CHEM Trust
CHEM Trust (January 26, 2016). “Chemicals in food contact materials: A gap in the internal market, a failure in public protection.” (pdf)
