Only 4 out of 17 EU listed food contact materials are currently covered by specific EU wide safety measures. Harmonised rules are needed for all materials in contact with food, say Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and the European paper and board industry.
Members of the EU Parliament are calling for EU wide safety rules for all food contact materials (FCM). In a plenary session on 6 October, they voted with 559 votes against 31 in favour of the report on food contact materials presented by Christel Schaldemose, MEP and member of the Comittee for Environment, Public Health and Food safety. The non-binding resolution is meant to urge the European Commission to revise the current legislation and ensure that the materials that are in direct contact with food are safe.
"Given the prevalence of FCMs on the EU market and the risk that they could pose to human health, the EU Commission should prioritise the drawing up of specific EU measures for paper and board, varnishes and coatings, metals and alloys, printing inks and adhesives", MEPs said.
Currently only plastics, ceramics, regenerated cellulose and "active and intelligent" materials are covered by specific safety measures foreseen in EU legislation. 13 other listed food contact materials are not harmonised at EU level and have yet to be fully tested for safety for human health, according to Schaldemose-report.
The report notes that special attention needs to be paid to those food contact materials - whether directly or indirectly in contact with food - with a higher risk of migration, such as materials surrounding liquids and high-fat foods, and to materials that are in contact with food for a long period of time.
in a joint press release the Confederation of European Paper Industries (CEPI), International Confederation of Paper and Board Converters (CITPA) and European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO) welcomed the European Parliament report on implementation of the Framework Regulation on Food Contact Materials. In particular, the paper-based packaging value chain supports the strong call by the Parliament to develop a measure specific to the paper and board materials, they said.
According to CEPI, CITPA and FEFCO, a well-functioning internal market is key for the paper and board industry, its customers and consumers alike but in the absence of common EU rules diverging national measures are now seriously hampering the internal market: "These inconsistencies have created legal uncertainty and risks for the entire value chain, and hinder consumers' confidence in food safety."
"The paper industry has always prioritised consumer safety and has set world-class standards for producing safe packaging materials. But it cannot replace the role of the legislator in setting a level playing field and European-wide levels for safety," stressed CEPI, CITPA and FEFCO.
