Food Standards Agency
Sunday 27 July 2008
Safer food better business banner
AZ-Directory
What's NewRSS
What is RSS?salmon packed in trays
The Agency is responsible for ensuring the public is adequately protected against chemicals that might transfer into your food from these materials, causing you harm or affecting the quality of your food.
The Food Contact Materials Unit carries out scientific research and surveillance designed to improve techniques for detecting chemicals that have transferred to the food and to enforce controls.
Back to topThe unit also represents the UK's interests in negotiations with the European Commission and other EU Member States.
The objective is to put the same controls on substances and materials in place in all member states, so that even if you go to Europe on holiday you will be equally well protected.
Once proposals for regulating materials and substances have been agreed, the unit ensures they are enforceable in UK food law. This work involves close consultation with organisations that represent all interested people, including groups representing consumers.
Back to topThe new European Regulation (EC) number 1935/2004 replaces the existing controls on materials and articles in contact with food. The European regulation is now applicable throughout the EU and came into force on 3 December 2004.
Provisions in the regulation include so-called 'active' and 'intelligent' food contact materials and articles, intended to come into contact with food. In essence, 'active' materials and articles are those that are designed to actively release a substance into the foodstuff with the intention of extending its shelf-life, or maintaining or improving its condition. 'Intelligent' materials and articles are those that monitor the condition of the food or its surrounding environment in the packaging.
Provisions also apply to materials and articles that can reasonably be expected to come into contact with foods or to transfer their constituents to food (such as printing inks and adhesive labels). However, this does not include covering or coating substances that are part of the food and that may be eaten with it, such as sausage skin.
These general rules are supplemented by specific rules governing particular materials, such as food contact plastics.
Other materials – such as ceramics and babies' rubber dummies – are covered by the rules made by the Department of Trade and Industry.
Future provisions likely to arise from European measures should complete the work on plastics used in contact with food, with the possibility of regulating materials and articles made from recycled plastics for the first time. After this, provisions on other substances such as coatings on food contact items, rubber, paper and board, glass, metals and alloys, wood and cork, textiles and also waxes will be put in place.
Back to topIf you have any questions please contact the Food Contact Materials Unit on 020 7276 8555 or by email: FoodContactMaterial@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk
Back to topThis documents updates recent developments with regard to food contact materials
This is a general introduction to legislation on food contact materials and articles in Great Britain. It does not in any way supplement the law in this area, nor constitute legal guidance.
Food contact materials and articles are those that, in their finished state, are intended to come into contact with food. Examples of food contact materials and articles include food packaging, cookware, cutlery, tableware, work surfaces and food processing machinery and equipment.
This guidance is aimed primarily at businesses that manufacture, use, or sell materials and articles made from plastic that are intended for use in contact with food.
Find out what our other sites have to offer