Information: Working Document for a Draft Regulation

Information: Working document for a draft Regulation on active and intelligent materials and articles intended to come into contact with food

Scope

The Framework Regulation establishes the general principles for all materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs ("food contact materials", FCM). It includes active and intelligent materials and articles.

They are defined in the Regulation as follows:

‘active food contact materials and articles' means materials and articles that are intended to extend the shelf-life or to maintain or improve the condition of packaged food. They are designed to deliberately incorporate components that   would release or absorb substances into or from the packaged food or the environment surrounding the food;

‘intelligent food contact materials and articles' means materials and articles which monitor the condition of packaged food or the environment surrounding the food;

General provisions for active and intelligent materials cover:

General safety;

Changes to the composition and organoleptic properties of the food given that these changes comply with the Community provisions applicable to food;

Release of substances into the food only if they are authorised and  used in accordance with the relevant Community provisions applicable to food;

Labelling of released substances in accordance with rules on food labelling; labeling of non-edible parts and labelling to identify that the material is active or intelligent;

No misleading of consumer through changes in food or information given about condition of food;

Information to consumer and food packer on how to use active and intelligent materials and articles safely and appropriately in compliance with food law.

The Regulation does not cover all necessary aspects in detail therefore further requirements for active and intelligent materials and articles need to be set in a specific Commission measure.

Draft Specific Regulation on Active and Intelligent Materials and Articles

The objective of this draft Regulation is to set down additional requirements for active and intelligent materials and articles to ensure their safe use.

These cover in particular:

Safety of substances used in active and intelligent materials;

Relation to material specific requirements e.g. on plastic food contact materials;

Labelling of parts that can be mistaken for food;

Declaration of compliance.

The full text of the Draft Specific Regulation on Active and Intelligent Materials and Articles may be obtained by contacting our offices or emailing Abigail Mamo on .

Any feedback is welcome till the 2nd September 2008.