China Calls for Industry Opinions on Expanding the Scope of Allowed Substance in FCMs

China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) has called for industry feedback on draft national safety standard on food contact materials to include more polymers and food ingredients.  

The current enforcing standard for food contact materials is GB 4806.1-2016: General Safety Requirements on Food Contact Materials and Articles. It specifies the definitions, basic requirements, restrictions, compliances, test methods, traceability, and product information requirements for food contact materials. Specifically, it clarifies the overarching definition of “food contact material” which excludes any outer packaging or material, unless it comes into direct contact with food.

The new revision to this regulation was published on 19^th April 2023. It proposed that materials such as plastics, rubber, silica gel, paints, adhesives, and oil paints which are already permitted in China can be blended for use in food contact materials on condition that there are no chemical reactions. In addition to this, any substance which already has been approved for use as food ingredients in China, if it meets concerned standards, it can be used in the manufacture of FCMs. 

The consultation period is until 15^th May 2023. If you have any opinions, you are welcome to contact GPC via compliance@regulatory.cn. We will help you to submit your opinions to the authority.