meyer.science attended the international symposium on metals and alloys in contact with food jointly organized by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM) and the Slovenian health authorities on 6/7 November 2014 in Ljubljana.
The aim of the symposium was to understand European regulations and recommendations that apply to food packaging and utensils on the market and to exchange best practices related to product safety and testing for compliance. This symposium was also an opportunity to learn about the work of the EDQM and its publications including the first edition of the Practical Guide for manufacturers and regulators’, which is dedicated to metals and alloys used in food contact materials.
Background:
In June 2013, Council of Europe member states adopted Resolution CM/Res(2013)9 on metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles. A Technical Guide was also produced by the Committee of Experts on Packaging Materials for Food and Pharmaceutical Products (P-SC-EMB) and released in 2013 that presents this Resolution and practical guidelines for its implementation. The guidelines have been agreed amongst national authorities, manufacturers and control laboratories (private and public sector) and define quality requirements for materials such as aluminium foil, kitchen utensils, coffee machines etc., for which no specific EU regulations exist. Council of Europe member states agreed on Specific Release Limits (SRLs) for metal ions that are released from materials and may be transferred from packaging or containers to food. Transitional measures have been recommended to national food authorities.
This Technical Guide will be regularly updated by the P-SC-EMB and approved by the Consumer Health Protection Committee (CD-P-SC, Steering Committee under the responsibility of the Committee of Ministers) and published under the aegis of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and HealthCare (EDQM);
Please do not hesitate to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any further questions concerning the Practical Guide on metals and alloys in contact with food or with regard to applicable SRLs.
