EFSA issues guide on food material grade plastic recycling

Tag : Food Material
Recycled plastics can pose problems when reused as food containersdue to the possibility of contaminants being accumulated in thematerial during the recycling process.

The new EFSA guidelines are designed for a person or company submitting adossier in relation to safety evaluation of a recycling process toproduce materials and articles for contact with food.

EFSA said the publication was informed by the public consultationcarried out by its panel on food additives, flavourings, processingaids and materials in contact with food (AFC) between January andMarch this year.

Regulation

The European Commission's new regulation on recycled plastics (ECNo 282/2008) declares that only materials obtained from recyclingprocesses assessed for safety by EFSA can be used as materials andarticles for contact with food.

The regulation aims to limit potential contamination with chemicalsmigrating from packaging to food.

The new EC regulation also aims to make it easier for processors totrade under the same requirements across the EU. Previously, ahodgepodge of regulations existed on the use of recycled plastic by the food sector.

Mechanical processes