China Solicits Comments on Four New Food-Contact Materials

On December 9, 2021, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on four new food-contact materials and articles, to include one new additive and three new resins. The substances and specifications are listed below.

New Additive for Food-Contact Materials and Articles

1. Phosphoric acid, zirconium(4+ ) salt (2:1) (CAS No. 13772-29-7) for use in polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polylactic acid (PLA), and coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 1% (calculated as coating formula when used in coating and coating layers). Only PP materials and articles containing this substance may be used for microwave heating.

New Resins

1. 2-Propenoic acid, polymer with butyl 2-propenoate, ethenyl acetate and 2-ethylhexyl-2-propenoate (CAS No. 35239-19-1) for use in adhesives (for indirect food contact) at a maximum use level of 63% and specific migration limits (SML) of 6 mg/kg (as acrylic acid), 12 mg/kg (vinyl acetate), and 0.05 mg/kg (2-ethylhexyl-2-propenoate). Adhesives 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).
2. 1,4-Benzenedicarboxylic acid, 1,4-dimethyl ester, polymer with decanedioic acid, 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol, and1,2-ethanediol (CAS No. 51382-28-6) for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 40% (based on the dry weight of film) and SMLs of 7.5 mg/kg (as 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid), 0.05 mg/kg (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol), and 30 mg/kg (as ethyleneglyal). The use temperature for coatings and coating layers containing these substances may not exceed 121 °C.
3. Polymer of 1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, acrylic acid, and styrene for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 92% (as coating formula) and SMLs of 0.05 mg/kg (1,4-butanediol dimethacrylate), 0.1 mg/kg (as methacrylic acid), and 6 mg/kg (as acrylic acid). Coatings and coating layers containing this substance may not contact infant foods or breast milk.

Comments are due by January 7, 2022.