On October 31, 2017, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) published the latest update of the meeting minutes of its Working Group on Food Contact Materials (WG-FCM). The 26th meeting of the WG-FCM was held on October 10-12, 2017 in Athens, Greece.
During the meeting, the WG-FCM further discussed and noted changes for the draft opinions on the following substances for food contact plastics: Isobutane (CAS 75-28-5), poly((R)-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-(R)-3-hydroxyhexanoate (CAS 147398-31-0), selenium nanoparticles (CAS 7782-49-2), active mixture Spongel (no CAS number available), and reaction product of stearyl-diethanol-amine with C18 saturated fatty acids (additive) (no CAS number available). The revised draft opinions on isobutane, selenium nanoparticles, and active mixture Spongel will be scheduled for discussion and possible adoption. For the other two substances, the WG requires and requested additional information from the applicants to finalize the risk assessments; thus, the evaluations are currently suspended.
Three more dossiers on substances for plastic FCMs were received and discussed by the WG-FCM: Di(m-2,2′,2”-nitrilotris(ethanol)-diperchlorato)dinatrium (CAS 156157-97-0), ground sunflower seed hulls (no CAS number available), and Ln 1,4-benzene dicarboxylic acid (with Ln=La,Eu,Gd,Tb) (no CAS number available). The WG requires and requested additional information for all of the substances to finalize the risk assessments; thus, the evaluations are currently suspended.
Further, the WG-FCM was informed about the 5th meeting of EFSA’s Food Ingredients and Packaging (FIP) Scientific Network on food contact materials (FCMs) that was held on July 10-11, 2017. Also, Bastiaan Schupp from the European Commission reported on the use of biocides in FCMs, including those biocides that are in the provisional list of additives used in plastics.
Read more
CEF (October 31, 2017). “Minutes of the 26th meeting of the Working Group on Food Contact Materials 2017-2018.” (pdf)
