On July 28, 2022, China’s National Health Commission published an updated standard for paper and board as well as a new standard for bamboo and wood food contact materials.
The revised paper and board standard are described as including changes to some term definitions, raw material requirements, modified migration testing, and a new appendix section dedicated to determining the levels of 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol (CAS 96-23-1) and 3-chloro-1,2-propanediol (CAS 96-24-2) in aqueous extracts using gas chromatography. The revised standard will come into effect on June 30, 2023.
The new bamboo and wood standard defines migration limits and testing protocols for substances in the food contact materials, with specifics for heavy metals as well as an overall migration limit. The standard is effective beginning December 30, 2022. The documents are available for download in Chinese, and the Food Packaging Forum has not been able to translate and review the updates in detail.
References
National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (July 28, 2022). “GB4086.8- National food safety standard: Food contact paper and cardboard.” (in Chinese)
National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China (July 28, 2022). “GB 4806.12 – National food safety standard: Food contact bamboo, wood, and their products.” (in Chinese)
Read more
Jerry Wang (July 28, 2022). “China issues new GB standards for food contact paper, bamboo and wood materials & articles.” Chem Linked
David MacFarlane (August 9, 2022). “China revises food contact standard for paper and cardboard.” Chemical Watch
