Developments and Clarifications in EU Food Contact Regulations

The European Commission has announced that its ongoing review and revision of European Union food-contact material (FCM) legislation is likely to be delayed until early 2023, citing the importance of linking the FCM rules with the EU's newer chemicals strategy.

The European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA) and the Packaging Ink Joint Industry Task Force (PIJITF) have provided feedback as part of this industry consultation and have asked that prioritization should be given to the timely development of further measures for non-harmonized materials, especially printed FCMs, and such specific measures should incorporate industry risk assessment for non-listed substances.

ECMA Clears Up Confusion on Food Contact Inks

In light of some of the recent developments in food contact inks in Europe, which I touched upon in my last column, The European Carton Makers' Association has recently issued some guidance that aims to clarify which types of inks are suitable for direct food contact. The statement has been prompted by the association regularly fielding questions about which inks offer regulatory compliance.