Federal Council adopts 21st Amendment to Consumer Goods Ordinance regulating printing inks and varnishes that directly or indirectly contact food; includes updated positive list of monomers, additives, colorants, solvents, and photoinitiators; phase in period set until the end of December 2026
December 17, 2020
Switzerland adds 53 substances for use in FCM inks
Swiss government revises list of allowed substances for food contact material (FCM) inks, adds 53 substances; allows only chemicals not in direct contact with food and if no migration possible; effective from December 1, 2020
October 20, 2020
China publishes five draft FCM standards
National Health Commission (NHC) standards refine existing requirements for composites, printing inks, paper/paperboard, bamboo/wood, and detergents used in food contact; public comments being accepted until November 30, 2020
September 30, 2019
BfR warns against contaminants from azo dyes in FCMs
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment measures migration of 4 chemicals associated with azo dyes in paper food contact materials; finds migration levels to exceed estimated safe intake levels; recommends materials containing the substances be avoided until more toxicity data available
October 26, 2018
Photoinitiator industries form trade group
Producers and distributors of photoinitiators plan to form ‘Photoinitiators Platform’ to provide unified representation in REACH and FCM matters
October 9, 2018
New Chinese standards for inks and adhesives coming soon
China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment drafts new standards for food contact adhesives and printing inks, revises other existing standards
August 3, 2018
EFSA: 6th FIP network meeting on FCMs
EFSA’s Food Ingredients and Packaging Scientific Network held 6th meeting on food contact materials on July 10-11, 2018, discussed ongoing activities, printing inks, paper and board FCMs
December 22, 2017
Toxic napkins
CHEM Trust revisits issue of paper napkin contamination by primary aromatic amines used in ink production, calls for improved regulation of chemicals in food contact paper and inks
December 12, 2017
Non-harmonized FCMs and plastic recycling
Smithers Pira 2017 conference on plastic and paper in contact with food covers initiatives by industry associations and recycling of plastic FCMs
December 11, 2017
Discussing FCM regulation in the EU
Speakers at 2017 Smithers Pira “Plastics & Paper” conference summarize recent developments in EU FCM regulation landscape, discuss EU Commission’s proposal for printed FCMs
