Global Food Contact Materials Regulations

This module will look at Mercosur regulations that directly impact FCMs. These are known as resolutions. Before taking an in-depth look at the regulations, the session will look at how Mercosur (Grupo Mercado Común del Sur (GMC)) defines FCMs under GMC Resolution 03/92. 

There will be discussion of the most recent amendment to Mercosur Resolution 39/19, which includes the positive list of additives allowed to be used in plastic materials and polymeric coatings for food contact. 

And this session will also discuss the updates to GMC Resolution 02/12 (positive list of monomers and starting substances for food contact plastic), GMC Resolution 56/92 (general safety requirements for food contact plastics), GMC Resolution 46/06 (food contact metals) and GMC Resolution 40/15 (general safety requirements for food contact paper). 

The implementation process of GMC resolutions at a national level (Mercosur member states) will also be clarified.

FCM regulations in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Chile will also be looked at, and any corresponding FCM compliance requirements discussed. 

During this module, you will learn about:

• how Mercosur regulations (resolutions) apply to the FCMs you are interested in, including those for plastics, cellulose-based FCMs, regenerated cellulose FCMs, elastomeric FCMs, metallic FCMs
• the current regulations in Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Mexico and Chile
• what substances have already been cleared in the current Mercosur resolutions
• what the restrictions are for certain key-listed FCM substances, with respect to their specific migration limits (SMLs)
• carrying out a worst-case calculation (WCC) in cases where experimental or theoretical (modelling) migration data is missing
• what migration testing conditions are to be applied, with case study examples
• what the analytical challenges are during the identification of non-intentionally added substances (Nias) that migrate into food under intended conditions of use
• what the key steps are when considering the risk assessment of FCM substances migrating into food
• what the steps are for a new FCM substance petition to Anvisa (Brazil) or CONAL (Argentina); and,
• demonstrating compliance with food contact applications in the above-mentioned markets.

Chiara Brandonisio, PhD

Group Leader, Global Food & Food Contact Materials (FFCM) Division, knoell, the Netherlands