At an online event on March 29, 2022, Christiane Seidel from the German consumer organization Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (VZBV) presented findings from interviews with a diverse array of German consumers regarding their perception and knowledge of food packaging and other food contact materials (FCMs). Jointly hosted by VZBV and German Member of the EU Parliament (MEP) Christine Schneider, the meeting brought together European stakeholders to discuss the findings and how European regulators are planning to address concerns. The study presented by VZBV reveals that (i) German consumers are concerned with sustainability of food packaging (FPF reported), but (ii) when it comes to the chemicals in food packaging, they are mostly clueless and consequently, (iii) consumers rely on regulators and industry to ensure FCM safety.
Seidel summarized that “consumers assume that no unsafe food contact materials are on the market, and they also assume that all food contact materials have been tested for safety before being allowed on the market.” A special challenge for consumers and regulatory enforcement is online retail where illegal products continue to be sold, such as bamboo plastics made with melamine-formaldehyde resin (FPF reported).
MEP Schneider stated that “carcinogenic substances should not be allowed in FCMs”, echoing provisions made in the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (FPF reported) and the Farm to Fork Strategy (FPF reported). Further, Schneider stressed that “food safety should mean the same thing across all EU Member States,” highlighting that some provisions in individual Member States’ regulations imply that a single market does not exist for food contact materials. In MEP Schneider’s opinion the regulation on FCMs should be aligned with the EU’s regulations on chemicals, namely REACH and CLP. And specific provisions are still required to substitute endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in FCMs.
Jonathan Briggs of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health (DG Sante) stated that the European Commission (EC) is working on a public consultation about its planned changes to the FCM regulation. This consultation will be held in the form of a questionnaire and is expected to be published shortly. He stated that the EC will take a stricter approach on hazardous chemicals like carcinogens, mutagens and those toxic for reproduction (CMRs), EDCs, or chemicals that are persistent, bioaccumulating and toxic (PBTs), regardless of which FCM these compounds are found in. Briggs also revealed that the EC’s new regulation will focus on the finished food contact article in terms of safety assessment, moving away from the current approach where starting substances are the main interest. Finally, he shared that a new system was being developed to improve both the quality of, and access to, data for the entire supply chain as well as for regulatory enforcement.
Speaking as the head of sustainability and product compliance of Danish retailer Søstene Grene, Liv Vestergaard stressed the importance of a level playing field for all. “Customers expect that we always follow the rules, and we will do our best not to sell products with hazardous chemicals”, she said, but also made the point that she depended on help from the authorities in this regard. Recent experience shows that customers are very concerned about certain chemicals, like phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), or PFAS, but that they are not sure in which products these hazardous substances could be present. Vestergaard remarked that consumer focus on chemical safety has been increasing recently.
MEPs will only be able to comment on new FCM regulation once the EC publishes its draft which is expected by mid-2023.
Read more
VZBV (March 29, 2022). “Findings of the group interviews on food contact materials.”
VZBV (March 2022). “Food contact materials.”
VZBV (October 7, 2020). “Representative survey reflecting the knowledge and perceptions of consumers regarding food contact materials.” (in German).
VZBV (October 7, 2020). “Greater protection against harmful chemicals for consumers.”
