China Approves Expanded Usage for Food-Contact Substances
On November 11, 2020, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) approved expanded usage for one additive and one resin for use in food contact materials and articles. The additive, polyethylene (CAS no. 9002-88-4) may now be used at a maximum use level of 0.3% in polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic. The use temperature of POM containing this substance may not exceed 121oC.
The resin, 2-Propenoic acid, polymer with 1,3-butadiene and ethenylbenzene (CAS no. 25085-39-6), may now be used in adhesives at dosage as necessary. It is subject to a maximum permitted quantity (QM) of 1 mg/kg for 1,3-butadiene and specific migration limits (SMLs) of 6 mg/kg (as acrylic acid) and non-detectable (ND) for 1,3-butadiene (detection limit (DL) equals 0.01 mg/kg). Adhesives containing this substance may only be used for indirect food-contact pressure-sensitive adhesives where filling and long-term storage are at room temperature (to include hot filling or pasteurization limits of: T≤70°C, t≤2h or T≤100°, and t≤15min).