China Solicits Comments on Food-Contact Substances

On August 5, 2020, China's National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on one new food-contact substance, two new food-contact resins, and expanded use of four food-contact substances. The substances and specifications included in these draft clearances are described below.

New Food-Contact Substances

• 1,3,5-Tris (2,2-dimethylpropanamido) benzene (CAS no. 745070-61-5) for use in polypropylene (PP) plastic at a maximum use level of 0.0025% and with a specific migration limit (SML) of 5 mg/kg.

Food-Contact Substances Cleared for Expanded Uses

• C.I. Solvent Red 101; Ferric oxide; Iron oxide (CAS No. 1309-37-1) for use in polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate (PCT) plastic at a maximum use level of 0.3% and a SML of 48 mg/kg (as iron). This substance must comply with the purity requirements of colorants in Appendix A of GB 9685-2016.
• Magnesium hydroxide (CAS no. 1309-42-8) at a maximum use level of 0.07% in polyoxmethylene (POM) plastic. The temperature of POM to which this substance has been added may not exceed 121o C.
• Aluminum magnesium hydroxide carbonate (CAS no. 11097-59-9) at a maximum use level of 0.02% in POM plastic. The use temperature of POM to which this substance has been added may not exceed 121o C.
• Polycyclooctene (CAS no. 25267-51-0) at a maximum level of 8% in ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) and a SML of 0.05 mg/kg (cyclooctene). The EVOH to which this substance has been added may only be used in the non-food-contact layer of multilayer food-contact materials and articles, and the non-food-contact layer may not exceed 100 μm. In addition, the EVOH may not contact infant food and breast milk.

New Food-Contact Resins

• 1,3-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, polymer with dimethyl 1,4-benzenedicarboxylate, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol and 1,2- ethanediol (CAS no. 35176-78-4) for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 20% (as painting formula) and SMLs of 5 mg/kg (as 1,3-phthalic acid), 0.05 mg/kg (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol), and 30 mg/kg (ethylene glycol). Materials containing this substance may not be used at temperatures exceeding 130o C and may not contact infant food, breast milk, or food with an ethanol content above 20%.
• 1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid,1,4-dimethyl ester, polymer with decanedioic acid, 2,2- dimethyl-1,3-propanediol and 1,2- ethanediol (CAS no. 51382-28-6) for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 9% (as painting formula), with SMLs of 0.05 mg.kg (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol) and 30 mg/kg (ethylene glycol). Materials containing this substance may not be used at temperatures exceeding 130o C and may not contact infant food, breast milk, or food with ethanol content above 20%.