EU Adds Nickel to Restricted List and Strengthens Chemical Safety Under Food Contact Plastics Regulations

With Regulation (EU) 2017/752, the EU has strengthened chemical safety in food contact plastics and added nickel to the list of restricted heavy metals. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) May 18, 2017 - The European Union (EU) has published several changes to the 'Food Contact Plastics' Regulation. Issued on April 29, 2017, Regulation (EU) 2017/752 adds:

• A completely new entry for the specific migration of nickel, restricting it to no more than 0.02 mg/kg, to Annex II (Restrictions on materials and articles)
• Six substances to the authorized list of substances
• Editorial changes to Annex III (Food simulant assignment for demonstrating compliance with the overall migration limit), establishing the information in the form of a table for ease of reference
• Replaces the residual content requirements for 10 substances with specific migration limits

The addition of nickel brings the number of heavy metals with specific migration restrictions in food contact plastics to nine. The complete list is:

• Aluminum
• Barium
• Cobalt
• Copper
• Iron
• Lithium
• Manganese
• Nickel
• Zinc

Previously, the 'Food Contact Plastics' Regulation was substantially amended, by Regulation (EU) 2016/1416, in August 2016. This added, among other things, a new list of authorized substances and new restrictions.

Regulation (EU) 2017/752 will become effective on May 19, 2017, the exception being the restrictions on the specific migration of nickel, which will become effective on May 19, 2019.

Stakeholders should be aware that Regulation (EU) 2017/752 allows for food contact plastics, complying with Regulation (EU) 10/2011 as applicable before the updates come into force, to be placed on the market until May 19, 2018. These products may remain on the market until stocks are exhausted.

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 EU Strengthens Chemical Safety in Food Contact Plastics SafeGuardS. (www.sgs.com/en/news/2017/05/safeguards-07517-eu-strengthens-chemical-safety-in-food-contact-plastics)

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 90,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,000 offices and laboratories around the world.

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