China Solicits Comments on Food-Contact Substances

On August 20, 2021, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on 11 food-contact materials and articles, including five new additives, four food-contact materials and articles for usage expanded, and two new resins. 

New Additives for Food-Contact Materials and Articles

1. 1,3,5-Triallyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6 (1H,3H,5H)-trione (CAS No. 1025-15-6) for use in fluororubber at a maximum use level of 4%. The use time may not exceed 30 minutes when the use temperature for rubber materials containing this substance is above 100° C.
2. C16~18-Fatty acids, esters with pentaerythritol (CAS No. 85116-93-4) for use in polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) at a maximum use level of 1%. PBT materials and articles containing this substance may only be used for filling and long-term storage at room temperature and below (including hot filling and pasteurization under the conditions of T≤70°C, t≤2h or T≤100°C, t ≤15min).
3. Vitamin E (dl-α-Tocopherol acetate) (CAS No. 7695-91-2) for use in polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) at dosage as necessary.
4. 1-Decene, homopolymer, hydrogenated (CAS No. 68037-01-4) for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 1% and a specific migration limit (SML) of 0.05 mg/kg (1-decene). Coating and coating layers containing this substance may not contact infant food or breast milk.
5. Hexanedioic acid, polymer with 1,2- propanediol (CAS No. 25101-03-5) for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 5%. Coating and coating layers containing this substance may not contact infant food or breast milk.

Food-Contact Materials and Articles with Expanded Usage

1. Hydroxyethyl cellulose (CAS No. 9004-62-0) for use in rubber at a maximum use level of 1%.
2. 2-Propenoic acid, polymer with ethenylbenzene (CAS No. 25085-34-1) for use in rubber at a maximum use level of 30% and an SML of 6 mg/kg (as acrylic acid).
3. 2-Propenoic acid, polymer with sodium phosphinate, sodium salt (CAS No. 129898-01-7) for use in paper and paperboard at dosage as necessary and an SML of 6 mg/kg (as acrylic acid).
4. Rosin, ester with glycerol (CAS No. 8050-31-5) for use in paper and paperboard at a maximum use level of 0.25%. Paper and paperboard materials containing this substance may not contact infant food or breast milk.

New Resins

1. Copolymer of acrylic acid, styrene, acrylic acid ethyl ester, acrylic acid 2- ethylhexylester, methacrylic acid methyl ester (CAS No. 25585-76-6) for use in adhesives at a maximum use level of 1% and SMLs of 6 mg/kg (as acrylic acid), 0.05 mg/kg (2-ethylhexyl acrylate), and 6 mg/kg (as methacrylic acid). Adhesives produced with this substance as raw materials may be used for filling and long-term storage at room temperature and below (including hot filling and pasteurizing under the conditions of T≤70°C, t≤2h or T≤100°C, t≤15min). Adhesives produced with substance may not be used with irradiated food.
2. Polymer of cyclohexanedimethanol-1,4, ethylene glycol,2,2-dimethyl-1,3- propanediol, isophthalic acid, dimethyl terephthalate and trimellitic anhydride (CAS No. 74239-60-4) for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 30% and SMLs of 6 mg/kg (1,4-bis(hydroxymethyl)cyclohexane), 30 mg/kg (ethylene glycol), 5 mg/kg (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol), 5 mg/kg (as isophthalic acid), and 5 mg/kg (as trimellitic anhydride). The use temperature for coatings and coating layers using this substance as raw materials may not exceed 130°C and the coatings and coating layers may not be used in contact with infant food or breast milk. 

Comments are due by September 10, 2021.