On July 4-5, 2018, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Scientific Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) held its 1st plenary meeting in Parma, Italy (FPF reported). The meeting minutes were agreed on July 25, 2018 and are now available online.
The CEP Panel’s work program 2018-2021 was presented to the Panel members. Work areas include food contact materials (FCMs), the recycling of plastic FCMs, food enzymes, and processing aids. Specific mandates concern phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) in plastic FCMs. Accordingly, the CEP Panel’s working groups were established, focusing on 1) FCMs, 2) recycling plastics, 3) food enzymes, 4) phthalates, 5) reevaluation of BPA, and 6) decontamination substances.
Further, the CEP Panel discussed the draft opinion on the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) recycling process ‘General Plastic’ which is based on the Starlinger viscotec deCON technology (FPF reported). The Panel members “unanimously adopted the opinion, subject to incorporation of changes as suggested during the meeting.”
No new mandates or applications were received or considered since the last plenary meeting of EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) (FPF reported). One application for the safety assessment of FCMs was withdrawn: Ground sunflower seed hulls for use as an additive in plastics (FPF reported).
Lastly, the CEP Panel was informed about a FIP (food ingredients and packaging) tasking grant regarding scientific advice and assistance in these areas: i) Guidance on data required for the risk assessment of flavorings, ii) safety evaluation of food enzymes, iii) re-evaluation of approved sweeteners, BPA, and other substances authorized for use in FCMs. The deadline for submission of proposals is September 3, 2018.
The dates for the next CEP plenary meetings were scheduled as follows: September 26-27, 2018 (Brussels), October 23-25, 2018 (open plenary), December 4-6, 2018, February 5-7, 2019, April, 2-4, 2019, May 21-23, 2019, July 2-4, 2019, September, 17-19, 2019, October 22-24, 2019, and December 10-12, 2019. Unless indicated differently, the meetings will take place in Parma.
Read more
CEP (July 25, 2018). “Scientific Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) – Minutes of the 1st plenary meeting.” (pdf)
