Global Food Contact Materials Regulations

The module will also examine the updated Japanese regulation on food safety as it impacts FCMs and food contact articles. Before taking a deep dive into the regulation, the session will look at how Japan, under its new Food Safety Law, defines FCMs. 

This will be followed by several key aspects from the updated Japanese Food Safety Law affecting FCMs. Among the topics to be discussed will be already listed FCM-substances allowed in the manufacturing of utensils, containers and packaging (UCPs) of foods in Japan. Details on the newly established rules by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) on UCPs, as of 01 June 2020, will also be discussed and important updates to the positive list in the period 2020-2023. Currently such rules cover base polymers used in the manufacturing of synthetic resins and coatings for food contact, allowed monomers for preparation of base polymers, as well as FCM-substances. They are used in manufacturing of additives and coating agents for food contact applications.

During this module, you will learn about:

• what is new in the amended Food Sanitation Act in Japan, and its impact on FCMs;
• which FCM-substances have been placed on positive lists in Japan until 31 May 2020, and what the transition period is;
• what are the updates to the positive list?
• what substances are exempted
• which final products have restrictive requirements?
• which end-products have restrictive requirements and what testing is required?
• what are the petition steps in Japan are under the Japan’s MHLW, for listing a new FCM-substance on a positive list;
• how are recycled plastics regulated in Japan?
• what is the reporting process for recycled plastics? 

Ms Liu Hui, MSc

Regulatory Affairs Manager, Food Contact Materials, knoell Shanghai, China