On February 27, 2018, 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 28th meeting of the WG-FCM was held on February 6-7, 2018 in Parma, Italy.
During the meeting, the WG-FCM discussed the draft opinion and noted changes for the substance (perfluorobutyl)ethylene (PFBE, CAS 19430-93-4) intended for use in the manufacture of FCMs (FPF reported). To complete the risk assessment, the WG again requires additional information from the applicant. Until submission of the requested information, the scientific evaluation is suspended.
Further, the WG-FCM discussed the dossier received on the substance tris (2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2,4-tricarboxylate (CAS 3319-31-1) intended to be used as a plasticizer in FCMs. Additional information is required to complete the risk assessment and scientific evaluation is currently suspended.
A technical hearing was held on the additional data provided for amines, bis (hydrogenated rape-oil alkyl) methyl, N-oxides (CAS 204933-93-7) intended to be used as an additive in plastic FCMs (FPF reported). The applicants were invited to clarify the additional data they had provided, “as the data were not considered satisfactory to conclude on the risk assessment of the substance.” EFSA will deliver to the applicants a written summary of the points discussed during the hearing; scientific evaluation is currently suspended.
Takis Daskaleros from the European Commission’s (EC) Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) “informed the WG about the process and timelines of the ongoing Roadmap initiative to evaluate the FCM legislation” (FPF reported). The EC held a public consultation on the roadmap from November 28 until December 26, 2017 to which the Food Packaging Forum provided comments (FPF reported). “Consultations with relevant stakeholders, including EFSA, are planned to be carried out in the course of the evaluation,” the meeting minutes read.
The next meeting of the WG-FCM is scheduled for March 20-21, 2018.
Read more
CEF (February 27, 2018). “Minutes of the 28th meeting of the Working Group on Food Contact Materials 2017-2018.” (pdf)
