China Solicits Comments on New and Expanded Usage for Food-Contact Materials

On May 9, 2024, the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on seven food contact materials and articles: one new additive, expanded usage for four additives, one new resin, and expanded usage for one resin. Comments are due by May 27, 2024. The substances and specifications are listed below. 

New Food-Contact Additive

1. Chromium nitride coatings made from nitrogen and chromium (CAS No. 12053-27-9, 24094-93-7) is to be cleared for use in coatings and coating layers at the necessary dosage. The specific migration level (SML) is non-detectable (ND) as VI, where the detection limit is 0.01 mg/kg. For the use of nitrogen and chromium metal as raw materials, the physical vapor deposition (PVD) technology is used to make a coating on the surface of the metal substrate. The percentage of nitrogen atoms in the coating is 18% to 40%, and the percentage of chromium atoms is 60% to 82%.

Additives with Expanded Usage

1. C.I. Pigment black 7; Carbon black (CAS No. 1333-86-4) is to be cleared for use in polycyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate (PCT) at a maximum use level of 2.5%. The toluene extract in this substance is less than 1%, and the content of benzo[a]pyrene is less than 0.25 mg/kg. PCT plastic materials and articles containing this substance must meet the colorant purity requirements in Appendix A of GB 9685-2016. Food-contact materials and articles containing this substance may contact all food types except those containing more than 50% alcohol, at temperatures up to 100°C. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with the provisions of GB 4806.1.
2. Sodium hydroxide (CAS No. 1310-73-2) is to be cleared for use in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) at the necessary dosage. This substance may only be used as a processing aid in the production of PVDF plastic materials and products, and the fluorine migration in the PVDF plastic materials and products may not exceed 0.2 mg/kg. PVDF plastic materials and products containing this substance may only be used at T≤ 70°C, t≤24h, and may not be used in contact with foods with ethanol content higher than 50% or with foods containing oils and fats. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with the provisions of GB 4806.1.
3. Dibutyl sebacate (CAS No. 109-43-3) is to be cleared for use in PVDF at the necessary dosage. This substance may only be used as a processing aid in the production of PVDF plastic materials and products. PVDF plastic materials and products containing this substance may only be used at T≤70°C, T≤24h and may not contact foods with ethanol content higher than 50% or foods containing oils and fats. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with the provisions of GB 4806.1.
4. 2,4,8,10-Tetraoxa-3,9-diphosphaspiro [5.5]undecane,3,9-bis[2,4- bis(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenoxy]- (CAS No. 154862-43-8) is to be cleared for use in adhesives that have direct contact with food at a maximum use level of 0.04% and an SML of 5 mg/kg. Adhesives containing this substance are for filling at room temperature and long-term storage at room temperature (including hot-filling and pasteurization at T≤ 70°C, t≤2h or T≤100°C, t≤15min) and may not be used in contact with foods containing oils and fats. These restrictions must be marked in accordance with the provisions of GB 4806.1.

New Resin

1. Copolymer of trimethoxyphenylsilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and silica is to be cleared for use in coatings and coating layers at the necessary dosage. Coatings and coating layers using this substance as raw materials may be applied only to metal surfaces. The maximum permitted residual content (QM) is 1 mg/kg for methyltrimethoxysilane. These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with the provisions of GB 4806.1.

Resin with Expanded Usage

1. Benzene, ethenyl-, polymer with 1,3-butadiene, hydrogenated (CAS No. 66070-58-4) is to be cleared for use in coatings and coating layers at a maximum use level of 27/5% (as dry weight of film). The SML is ND for 1,3-butadiene and the QM is 1 mg/kg for 1,3-butadiene. Coatings produced with this substance are for single-use use only and are intended for long-term storage at room temperature (including hot-filling and pasteurization at T≤ 70°C, t≤2h or T≤100°C, t≤15min). These restrictions must be labeled in accordance with the provisions of GB 4806.1.