EFSA issues new rules for food contact materials applications

The authority describes active food contact materials as those that “…absorb or release substances in order to preserve or improve the condition of packaged food or extend their shelf life.”​

Intelligent food contact materials are defined as those that “…monitor the condition of packaged food or the surrounding environment, providing information on the freshness of the food​.”

The guidelines explain which factors the authority will take into account when making safety assessments. This includes for example the products’ toxicological properties and the extent to which they, or their breakdown products, could transfer into foods.

Safety assessment​

Manufacturers that want to request authorisation for such products must first submit an application for an EFSA safety assessment.

The safety assessment will focus on three risks related to the dietary exposure of chemicals. Those include:

• The migration of active or intelligent substances
• The migration of their degradation and/or reaction products
• Their toxicological properties

Applications must include a dossier outlining key information about the active or intelligent material.

This document should consist of three sections: Summary, administrative part and technical dossier.

Manufacturing process​

The technical dossier should include: Overview of the application, identity of the active or intelligent substance, its physical or chemical characteristics, the manufacturing process, the intended application, existing authorisations, migration data and toxicological information.

After reviewing the document, the authority says it will issue an opinion, recommendations, specifications or restrictions on the substance or substances under review.

The guidelines are published in Regulation (EC) Number 450/2009.

Following a public consultation, the guidelines were adopted by EFSA’s expert panel on food contact materials.