On July 26, 2019, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published scientific opinions on four different recycling processes used to recycle post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into food contact materials (FCMs). The panel’s scientific opinions concluded that for the (i) AMB process based on Bandera technology, (ii) Poly Recycling process based on Starlinger iV+ technology, and (iii) Texplast process based on Starlinger iV+ technology the resulting recycled PET when used up to 100% is not a safety concern “for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill.” For the (iv) Quinn Packaging process based on Erema Basic technology, the panel concluded that the resulting recycled PET when used up to 100% is not a safety concern “for contact with all types of foodstuff, except packaged water, for long‐term storage at room temperature.” For each of these processes, articles made from their recycled materials are not intended for use in microwaves and conventional ovens, and these uses were therefore not covered by the EFSA evaluations.

The Working Group on Recycling Plastics within the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) is responsible for evaluation of the recycling processes. These processes were most recently discussed during the group’s sixth meeting on June 20-21, 2019 (FPF reported).

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EFSA (July 26, 2019). “Safety assessment of the process AMB, based on Bandera technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials.”

EFSA (July 26, 2019). “Safety assessment of the process Quinn Packaging, based on Erema Basic technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials.”

EFSA (July 26, 2019). “Safety assessment of the process Poly Recycling, based on Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials.”

EFSA (July 26, 2019). “Safety assessment of the process Texplast, based on Starlinger iV+ technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials.”

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