EFSA issues raft of food contact material approvals

The European Food Standards Authority (EFSA) has cleared the use of a range of new substances to be used as food contact materials in the economic bloc.

All were given approval under Regulation (EC) No.1935/2004 by the agency’s CEF panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids.

UV light stabiliser

The experts said they had no concerns over the use of the additive 2,4-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-6-(2-hydroxy-4-n-octyloxyphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine for use as a UV light stabiliser in polyolefins.

The substance, which has CAS number 2725-22-6 and the European Commission reference number 38885, was referred to EFSA by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The maximum intended percentage in the formulation is 0.06 per cent w/w in polyethylene, 0.1% w/w in polypropylene but limited to 0.06 per cent w/w for fatty food contact. The dossier was submitted on behalf of Cytec Industries Inc, USA.

The CEF Panel concluded there was no safety concern for the consumer if the migration of the substance does not exceed 5 mg/kg food.

To read the full opinion click HERE

Antioxidant in all polyolefins

The panel also gave the go-ahead for additive 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid, esters with C13-C15 branched and linear alcohols after a request for evaluation from the FSA in the UK.

The dossier, with CAS number 171090-93-0 and the EC reference number 47060, was submitted on behalf of Chemtura Manufacturing UK Ltd. It was approved for use as an antioxidant in all polyolefins at a maximum content of 0.06 per cent w/w for contact with dry and aqueous food types at room temperature for a long period and in contact with boiling water for 15 minutes

There was no safety concern if the substance is used only in polyolefins in contact with foods other than fatty/high-alcoholic and dairy products and its migration does not exceed 0.05 mg/kg food, said the panel.

To read the full opinion on the additive click HERE

Monomer in Polyamides

German safety authorities requested an evaluation of the substance 1,10-decanediamine for use as a monomer in the production of polyamides at a maximum content of 55 per cent (w/w).

Finished articles are intended to come into contact with aqueous, acidic and dairy foodstuffs at room temperature or for short term contact up to a few minutes at 150°C maximum. The panel said it had no concerns for the above use as long as migration does not exceed 0.05 mg/kg food.

The material is intended for use in repeat use applications on food contact surfaces of food processing equipments, such as injectors or filters, as well as coffee machine parts.

The dossier for the substance, with CAS number 646-25-3 and EC reference 15260, was submitted on behalf of EMS-Chemie AG.

To read the full opinion on the additive click HERE

Co-monomer

EFSA also said there were no safety concerns for the substance trimethyl trimellitate for use as a co-monomer up to 0.35 per cent w/w to produce modified polyesters intended to be used in contact with aqueous and dry foodstuffs containing no free fat at the surface.

The substance has CAS number 2459-10-1 and EC reference 25885 and the dossier was submitted on behalf of Du Pont de Nemours (Belgium) B.V.B.A.

The request, from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, The Netherlands, was for production of thermoplastic elastomers (block copolymers of polybutylene terephthalate and polybutylene glycol).

To read the full opinion click HERE