DGCCRF INFORMATION NOTICE 2004 / 64 ON
MATERIALS IN CONTACT WITH FOODSTUFFS
The decree No. 92-631 of 8th July 1992 which transposes the directive 89/109/CEE relating to materials and objects intended to be put in contact with foodstuffs, specifies that these materials must be inert with regards to foodstuffs
To apply this principle of inertia to the different types of material, some application texts must define the rules (composition, purity criteria etc.) ensuring the suitability of each material category to be in contact with foodstuffs.Many specific directives in the field of plastics materials and regenerated cellulose films have thus been adopted and transposed by decree.
Furthermore, in the absence of a specific directive applicable to a particular type of material, the national regulations are applicable, such as the regulation relating to stainless steel, aluminium and to its alloys, rubber and silicon elastomers.
However, many materials are not subject to a specific regulation either at the European or National level, or are not completly regulated. It deals with This concerns cardboard,wood,lacquer, glues and adhesives and some metals and their alloys.
In addition, even for the regulated material categories , the rules to be used to check the conformity of the material or the object have to be clarified, as the field is complex.
To overcome these difficulties the DGCCRF (General Directorate of Competition,
Consumption and Fraud Repression ) has gathered the laboratories competent in the field of the materials in contact, material and transforming industries and agri-food industries within a workgroup called "the think-tank on regulations and methods for the assessment of the inertia of materials intended to be in contact with foodstuffs".
This workgroup has been meeting since 1992 ( three meetings per years) and is carrying on working.
The workgroup is responsible for making sheets for the different types of materials to specify the methods to check their suitability for food contact within the framework of specific regulations, and in the absence of regulation.
These sheets are intended for laboratories working in the analysis of materials in contact, industries manufacturing and producing materials and objects for contact with foodstuffs, agri-food industries and official inspection services.
They deals with the following material categories:
• Plastic materials;
• Composites;
• Ceramics, glass, crystal, glass ceramics, enamelled objects;
• Paper and cardboard;
• Aluminium ;
• Stainless steel;
• Steel excluding packaging;
• Uncoated steel for packaging (black plate);
• Steel with metallic coating used for packaging (Tinplate)
• Steel with organic coating used for packaging;
• Cast iron;
• Tin;
• Zinc ;
• Various coated metals and whitened metal;
• Rubber.
This information notice repeals and replaces the information notice No.2000-155.
This document will also be displayed on the Directorate's website in the section called "Update on…" to allow the various operators concerned to have an easy acces.