SGS SA The EU proposes to further amend its draft legislation on BPA in 'food contact plastics' and 'food contact varnishes or coatings'. If approved, the new provisions could become effective in late 2018.
SAFEGUARDS | Consumer Products NO. 158/17
On September 6, 2017, the World Trade Organization (WTO) circulated an amended proposal from the European Union (EU) to amend its draft legislation on bisphenol A (BPA) in 'food contact plastics' and 'food contact varnished or coated materials and articles'. That proposed amendment [1], notified in WTO document number 17-4734 [2] of September 6, 2017 and notified in G/SPS/N/EU/159/Add.1, amended the draft regulation in WTO document number 16-1443 [3] of March 14, 2016. That draft regulation contains a number of important changes to Regulation (EC) 10/2011, the so-called 'Food Contact Plastics Regulation', including:
- Strengthening the migration limit for BPA from 0.6 mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg
Expanding the proposed migration limit of 0.05 mg/kg for BPA to food contact varnished or coated materials and articles
Requiring a declaration of conformity (DoC) for food contact varnished or coated materials and articles
- Prohibiting BPA migration in food contact plastics and food contact varnished or coated materials and articles intended for infants and young children for food categories falling under Regulation (EU) 609/2013
On September 27, 2017, the WTO announced a second amendment to the EU's draft legislation on bisphenol A (BPA) in 'food contact plastics' and 'food contact varnished or coated materials and articles'. This latest amendment, attached to WTO document number 17-5152 [4] and notified in G/SPS/N/EU/159/Add.2, contains one important change to the first amended proposal (WTO document number 17-4734) by extending the prohibition of BPA in polycarbonate (PC) infant feeding bottles to PC drinking cups or bottles (sippy cups) intended for infants and young children.
Many of the proposed amendments in WTO document number 17-4734 remain unchanged. The prohibition of BPA in polycarbonate infant feeding bottles, under Regulation (EU) 321/2011, also remains unchanged.
If approved, the provisions in the new law could become effective in late 2018.
Highlights of the second amended proposal under WTO document number 17-5152 and a comparison with the migration of BPA under Regulation (EC) 10/2011 are summarized in the Table below.
| Citation | Scope | Requirement, unless otherwise stated, is BPA migration | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation (EC) 10/2011 | Food contact plastics | ≤ 0.6 mg/kg | January 2013 |
| Draft regulation amending Regulation (EC) 10/2011 (WTO document no. 17-5152) | Food contact plastics | ≤ 0.05 mg/kg | Six months after date of entry into force (potentially late 2018) |
| Food contact varnished or coated materials and articles | ≤ 0.05 mg/kg | ||
| Polycarbonate drinking cups or bottles for infants and young children | Prohibited (BPA content) | ||
| Food contact varnished or coated materials and articles for food for young children defined in Regulation (EU) 609/2013 | Prohibited | ||
Note: 'Food contact plastics' and 'food contact varnished or coated materials and articles' that were lawfully placed on the market before the effective date may remain on the market until stocks are exhausted. | |||
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 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 us for further information or visit our website.
Stakeholders are advised to comply with the latest requirements for food contact materials and articles for the EU market.
For enquiries, please contact:
Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: +852 2774 7420
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SGS SA published this content on 16 October 2017 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein.
Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 16 October 2017 05:24:01 UTC.
Original documenthttp://www.sgs.com/en/news/2017/10/safeguards-15817-eu-further-amends-proposal-for-bpa-in-food-contact-materials-and-articles
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