China Solicits Comments on Four Food-Contact Materials

On June 28, 2023, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on four food-contact materials and articles: two are for expanded use, one is a new additive, and one is a new resin. Comments are due by July 24, 2023. 

Food-Contact Additives with Expanded Use

1. N,N'-Hexane-1,6-diylbis[3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4- hydroxyphenylpropionamide] (CAS No. 23128-74-7) is to be cleared for use in Polyurethane (PUR) conveyor belts at a maximum use level of 0.5%. The specific migration level (SML) is 45 mg/kg. The PUR conveyor belt containing this substance would only be used for conveying food under the conditions of T≤70℃, t≤2h or T≤100℃, t≤15 min, and may not contact infant food. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with GB4806.1.
2. Pentaerythritoltetrakis(3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4- hydroxyphenyl)propionate) (CAS No. 6683-19-8) is to be cleared for use in Polyurethane (PUR) conveyor belts at a maximum use level of 0.5%. The SML is non-detectable (ND) for acrylamide, where the detection limit (DL) is 0.01mg/kg. The PUR conveyor belt containing this substance would only be used for conveying food under the conditions of T≤70℃, t≤2h or T≤100℃, t≤15 min and may not contact infant food. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with GB4806.1.

New Food-Contact Additive

1. Coffee grounds is to be cleared for use in polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS). The maximum use level for PLA is 20% and for PBS is 10%. Food-contact materials and articles containing this substance may not be used in the production of food-contact materials and articles for infants and young children and the operating temperature for those materials and articles may not be higher than 100°C. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with GB4806.1.

New Resin

1. 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-,1,1-(1,4-butanediyl) ester, polymer with butyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate, butyl 2-propenoate and methyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate is to be cleared for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 46% (as painting formula). The SMLs are 6 mg/kg (as Methacrylate) and 0.05 mg/kg (1,4-Butanediol dimethacrylate). Food-contact materials and articles containing this substance may not be used in the production of food-contact materials and articles for infants and young children and may not be used in contact with fat-containing foods. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with GB4806.1.