FOOD-CONTACT MATERIALS AND ARTICLES - STANDARDS FOR EUROPE

As part of its programme to create a Single European Market, the European Commission is harmonising rules governing materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs in order to remove technical barriers to trade and to protect the consumer. A framework Directive was adopted under which specific directives relating to particular food contact materials could be adopted. The key provisions of this Directive are that materials should be manufactured in accordance with good manufacturing practice and not endanger human health in use. Specific Directives already exist, e.g. on vinyl chloride monomer and regenerated cellulose film (cellophane). The recently adopted Plastics Directive lays down a positive list of monomers which can be used to manufacture food contact plastics. Future directives will include paper and board, already at an advanced stage of consideration by the Council of Europe (a non EC body), plus further plastica work. There is an active co-ordinated surveillance programme of work in the U.K. providing scientific data to assist the above bodies in proposals for future legislation.