Belgium's New Law on Food Contact Varnishes and Coatings Comes into Force
Belgium announces new regulations regarding food contact varnishes and coatings. The new law, issued via Royal Decree, entered into force on January 1, 2017
- (1888PressRelease) January 07, 2017 - Belgium has introduced a new law relating to food contact varnishes and coatings. The Belgian Federal Public Service (FPS) - Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment - published the Royal Decree, dated September 25, 2016, in October 2016, and the law came into force on January 1, 2017.
Varnishes and coatings, collectively referred to in the decree as varnish, are defined by the decree as - finished materials that are prepared essentially from organic materials and are applied to a substrate in the form of a film to create a protective layer and/or to impart certain technical properties.
The new Belgium law largely reflects European Regulation (EU) 10/2011 on 'Food Contact Plastics'. This includes the use of authorized substances listed in Annex I, the selection of simulants, testing conditions and migration limits.
The Royal Decree looks at:
• Scope:
o Vanishes for metal materials and articles
o Varnishes for flexible materials and articles
o Varnishes for high capacity agri-food applications
• Authorized substances:
o Substances listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 10/2011
o Substances not listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 10/2011 must:
Respect Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 1935/2004
Be approved by an EU Member State or the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
Not be carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic (CMRs) under CLP Regulation (EC) 1272/2008, and
Have specific migration higher than 0.01 mg/kg
• Food simulants
• Global Migration Limits
• Specific Migration Limits (SML)
• The Declaration of Compliance (DOC)
It should be noted that the Royal Decree includes a specific mention of citric acid in relation to migration of varnishes and coatings on metals.
The Royal Decree came into force on January 1, 2017, with an effective date of January 1, 2018, for verification compliance of specific migration in Article 8 of the decree. Companies looking to manufacture, or market, products with food contact varnishes for the Belgium market, should now check that they are complying with the new law.
SGS Home Furnishings & Houseware Services
SGS's technical experts have extensive experience of testing materials and articles in contact with food. They can ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for compliance. SGS offers the full range of testing, including migration tests, along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review. Learn more about SGS's Home Furnishings & Houseware Services (www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/hardgoods/home-furnishings-and-houseware)
SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Belgium Regulates Food Contact Varnishes and Coatings SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2016/12/safeguards-18516-belgium-regulates-food-contact-varnishes-and-coatings]
Subscribe here, www.sgs.com/subscribesg, to receive SGS SafeGuardS direct to your inbox.
For further information contact:
Hing Wo Tsang
Global Hardlines Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: cts.media ( @ ) sgs dot com
Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines
About SGS
SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 85,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,800 offices and laboratories around the world.
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