On September 26-27, 2018, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Scientific Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) held its 2nd plenary meeting in Parma, Italy. The meeting minutes were agreed on October 15, 2018, and are now available online.
During the meeting, the CEP Panel discussed the draft opinions on the safety evaluation of the active substance polyacrylic acid, sodium salt, cross-linked (FPF reported) and of Ln 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid (with Ln=La, Eu, Gd, Tb) (FPF reported) for use in food contact materials (FCMs). Both draft opinions were unanimously adopted, “subject to incorporation of changes as suggested during the meeting.”
Further, the CEP Panel received new mandates for the safety assessment of recycling processes and substances for food contact uses: 1) Recycling process for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for direct food application, super-clean technology: EREMA MPR B2B; 2) Texplast recycling process/EREMA advanced (RECYC 022) to produce recycled plastic for food contact uses (FPF reported); 3) silver as nano material (CAS 7440-22-4) for its use as additive in plastics; 4) waxes, paraffinic, refined, derived from petroleum based or synthetic hydrocarbon feedstocks; 5) bis(2-ethylhexyl)-cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate (CAS 84731-70-4) for its use as additive in plastics (Hanwha chemical); 6) AMB recycling process for PET for direct food application (Bandera); 7) milled carbonized PAN based carbon fiber; and 8) bleached cellulose pulp.
Bastiaan Schupp of the European Commission (EC) informed the CEP Panel about the current evaluation of the FCM legislation and the first stakeholder meeting that was held on September 24, 2018 (FPF reported). Schupp also reported on the EC’s ongoing work regarding recycling processes (FPF reported).
The CEP Panel’s Working Group (WG) on phthalates presented its progress on the safety reevaluation of dibutyl phthalate (DBP, CAS 84-74-2), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP, CAS 85-68-7), bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP, CAS 117-81-7), diisononyl phthalate (DINP, CAS 28553-12-0), and diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP, CAS 26761-40-0) authorized for use in plastic FCMs (FPF reported). The WG proposed “grouping the phthalates for setting health-based guidance value(s).” The considerations of the CEP Panel will be taken into account by the WG and a next update of its work will be presented at the CEP Panel’s open plenary meeting on October 24-25, 2018 (FPF reported).
Read more
CEP (October 17, 2018). “Scientific Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) – Minutes of the 2nd plenary meeting.” (pdf)
