On February 22, 2016 the non-profit organization Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) published a policy briefing on food contact materials (FCMs) and chemical contamination, following their press release on the occasion of the EU workshop on FCMs hosted by the European Parliament in January, 2016. In the policy briefing, HEAL addresses the regulatory gaps by listing the five types of FCMs for which EU-wide regulation exists (including ceramics, regenerated cellulose film, plastics) and the remaining majority of FCMs that are currently not regulated (including silicones, glass, metals and alloys). HEAL deems the unregulated FCM types paper and board, varnishes and coatings, and printing inks high priority and urges the EU to harmonize regulation for these types of FCMs. Further, HEAL recommends that chemicals identified as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) under the European regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) should be banned from use in FCMs. Also, cocktail effects of chemicals in FCMs and multiple exposures to chemicals of concern from other product sectors must be assessed.
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HEAL (February 2016). “Food contact materials and chemical contamination.” (pdf)
