Netherlands to Amend National Regulation on Food Contact Materials

May 7, 2014 - PRLog -- New Dutch Legislation on Food Contact Materials

The Dutch legislation on food contact materials (http://www.eurowet.nl/Warenwet-online.html), “The Commodities Act (Packaging and Consumer Articles) regulation”, is one of the most complete set of national legislation for food contact materials existing in the EU (1). The annexes of this regulation define specific requirements for certain food contact materials. In recent times the annexes have been amended many times, especially with respect to plastic materials. Therefore the Dutch authorities decided that the regulation with its Annexes should be re-enacted.

In Regulation (EU) No 10/2010 (http://www.fsai.ie/uploadedFiles/Reg10_2011.pdf) of 14 January 2011 the requirements are laid down for packaging and consumer articles made of plastic. Chapter I of Annex A of the Dutch regulation on requirements for plastic materials has been amended to reflect requirements from Regulation (EU) No 10/2010. Furthermore two new chapters have been added to the regulation, a chapter on colorants and pigments, and a chapter on epoxy polymers.

Specific Requirements for Food Contact Materials

The draft of the new regulation has been notified to the European Commission. The new regulation shall enter into force with effect from 1 April 2014 and contains rules and requirements for the following 12 material groups:

I     Plastics
II    Paper and cardboard
III   Rubber products
IV   Metals
V    Glass and glass ceramics
VI   Ceramic materials and enamels
VII  Textile products
VIII Foil made of regenerated cellulose
IX    Wood and cork
X     Coatings
XI    Colorants and pigments
XII   Epoxy polymers

Each chapter contains substances with restrictions and specifications which are used in the manufacture of materials and objects. These are composed of the following:

- Positive list with raw materials, base materials and auxiliary materials that are permitted for the manufacture of a given food contact material
- Limit for specific migration of substances
- Limit for overall migration

About SGS Material Testing Services

SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods/Hom...) and pave the way for compliance. From overall migration test to expert advices on emerging regulations and compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust.

Please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
Martijn Noordegraaf
Sales manager CTS Non Food
Puntweg 6
3208 LD Spijkenisse
The Netherlands

t:  +31 (0) 181 69 4515
Email: cts.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods.aspx

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