The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe1 has adopted a new resolution2 on the safety and quality of materials and articles for contact with food. This instrument is expected to improve the protection of consumers from contaminants (metals, antioxidants, stabilisers, colorants, plasticisers, etc.) potentially released by material in contact with food, such as containers, work surfaces or packaging.
These principles were elaborated by the European Committee for Food Contact Materials and Articles (CD-P-MCA) and supplement the relevant European Union and national regulations. Overall, the resolution aims at harmonising regulatory approaches to consumer health protection across Europe.
The annex to this resolution includes guiding principles for the implementation of suitable policies in the member states and technical guidance for specific materials, such as paper and board, metals and alloys, coatings or silicones.
See also:
- Terms of reference of the European Committee for Food Contact Materials and Articles (CD-P-MCA)
- More information on the work of the EDQM/Council of Europe on ensuring the safety and quality of food contact materials and articles
1. In its composition restricted to representatives of the States Parties to the Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine and United Kingdom.