Regulation No. 1935/2004/EC‘s Annex lists materials for which the EU can take specific measures. However, for the majority of food contact materials, the EU has not adopted shared measures. This is the case for:
- paper and cardboard
- glass
- wood
- cork
- metals and alloys
- fabrics
- adhesives
- ion-exchange resins
- printing ink
- silicone
- paints and varnishes
- waxes
Member states may maintain existing national legislation and adopt new regulations for materials not covered by specific EU measures. The lack of specific EU regulations has prompted the Council of Europe to establish general recommendations for various materials.
Experts in food contact materials specifically assess analytical plans for these non-regulated materials in the EU. Their assessment is based on national regulations, Council of Europe recommendations, and specific ad hoc protocols. They conduct a risk assessment of the materials, evaluating their criticality in accordance with the General principles of the framework Regulation, which includes assessment of migration, sensory analysis, risk assessment, and the presence of Non-Intentionally Added Substances (NIAS).
Our Comprehensive Services for Non-regulated Materials
Mérieux NutriSciences offers global services for food contact materials not regulated by the EU. We conduct extensive testing to determine the composition of materials, perform migration studies to understand how substances transfer from materials into food, assess the technological suitability of products, and screen for NIAS.
