EU will amend and correct plastic Regulation (EU) No 10/2011

Recently, the European Commission has notified the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) of two new substances that will be added to the Regulation on plastic materials intended to come into contact with food.

From the scientific evaluation of the substance1,3-bis(isocyanatomethyl)benzene with FCM number 988 it follows that migration of its hydrolysis product, 1,3-benzenedimethanamine should be controlled. 1,3-benzenedimethanamine is already an authorised starting substance with FCM number 421. As the migration of substance 421 and 988 is controlled in the same manner a group restriction which includes both substances should be introduced. Therefore the authorisation of substance 421 should be amended and the group restriction introduced to table 2 of Annex I.

Add 2-phenyl-3,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)phthalimidine to Table 1 of Annex I that could be used only as a co-monomer in polycarbonate copolymers wth a specific migration limit of 0.05 mg/kg. The substance contains aniline asan impurity; verification of compliance with the restriction set for primary aromatic amines in Annex II (2) is necessary.

The substance with FCM Substance Number 340 and the name dicyanodiamide is authorised to be used as an additive in plastics in Table 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 wth a new specific migration limit of 60 mg/kg.

The new regulation is expected to enter into force in April 2014. Plastic materials and articles which do not comply with the rule can still be placed on the market until April 2015.

Details:http://chemicalwatch.com/16745/eu-informs-wto-of-two-food-contact-material-approvals