On April 13, 2015 the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published two scientific opinions on the recycling processes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The first scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) deals with the safety assessment of the recycling processes ‘Coveris’ and ‘Envaplaster’, which are based on the same technology. The inputs to these processes are washed and dried PET flakes from post-consumer PET bottles containing no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The CEF Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the processes is not of safety concern. However, the final thermoformed trays and containers must not be used to package water (since water could be used to prepare infant formula). In the second scientific opinion, the CEF Panel deals with the safety evaluation of the recycling process ‘PET-M’. The inputs for the process are also washed and dried PET flakes originating from collected post-consumer PET containers (mainly bottles) containing less than 5% of PET from non-food consumer applications. The CEF Panel considers the recycled PET obtained from the process ‘PET-M’ not to be of safety concern when it is used up to 60% to manufacture bottles and up to 90% to manufacture thermoformed trays and containers. These can be used for contact with all types of foodstuffs except packaged water (as for the above processes, water could be used for preparation of infant formula).
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CEF (April 13, 2015). “Scientific Opinion on the safety evaluation of the following processes based on EREMA Basic technology used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials ‘Coveris’ and ‘Envaplaster’.” EFSA Journal 2015;13(4):4065.
CEF (April 13, 2015). “Scientific Opinion on the safety assessment of the process ‘PET-M’ used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials.” EFSA Journal 2015;13(4):4064.
