Following a ban by several European Union (EU) Member States on food contact bamboo-melamine plastics, the European Commission has published the “EU enforcement action on food contact materials (FCM) made of bamboo ‘powder’.”

Importers of FCM made with bamboo powder have been required to submit an authorization dossier according to Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, the Food Contact Framework Regulation. The recent announcement stresses that food contact plastics can only be manufactured or imported into the EU if they have been produced using thoroughly assessed substances, such as additives, monomers and polymers, that are in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 10/2011 (Union list, Annex I). FCM containing bamboo and other plant-based additives are not on this list and are therefore not authorized as legal.

Despite this, authorities are aware that several such products are still being made available. Between 2019 and March 2021, most RASFF (Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed) notifications for FCM containing bamboo fibers related to the unauthorized use of bamboo additives as a filler. Alongside this, many products are mislabelled as being made of 100% bamboo.

To respond to this, stakeholders, including the EC, Member States and the EU Food Fraud Network, agreed to launch an enforcement action plan in May 2021. The aim of this is to:
• Ensure non-compliant products are rejected at borders
• Incorrectly declared plastic product tax duties are recovered
• Businesses are reminded about the illegality of these products, including support via e-platforms
• Consumers are made aware of health and other issues

The EC has stated it will assist EU Member States in ensuring these products are no longer placed on the EU market.

SGS Food Contact Materials 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. After all, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Learn more about SGS’s Food Contact Materials Services. [http://www.sgs.com/fcm]

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full EU Enforcement Plan on Food Contact Materials Made of Bamboo Powder SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2021/08/safeguards-10621-eu-enforcement-plan-on-food-contact-materials-made-of-bamboo-powder]

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For further information contact:

Dr. HingWo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Dr. Udo Krischke
Global Technical Manager RSTS
Tel: +49 6128 744 235

Email: [email protected]
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