In the News

Triclosan Removed From EU's Provisional List of Additives for Use in Plastic Food-Contact Materials

Apr 6, 2010

The European Commission (EC) announced that 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenyl ether (triclosan) has been removed from the Provisional List of additives for use in plastic food-contact materials; however, plastic materials manufactured with the substance may be marketed until November 1, 2011. (The Provisional List consists of additives for which a valid petition was received by December 31, 2006 to be included on the Positive List of additives listed in the Plastics Directive (2002/72/EC). For more information, see the PackagingLaw.com article, EU's Positive List of Food-Contact Plastic Additives Now in Effect.)

This action was taken after Ciba Inc., a manufacturer of the substance, informed the EC of its decision to withdraw the application for the authorization of triclosan as an additive in the manufacture of food-contact plastic materials. The Commission's decision to remove triclosan from the Provisional List was published in the March 23, 2010 issue of the Official Journal of the European Union. According to EC's notification, Ciba withdrew the application because it "does not consider the use of the substance in plastics intended to come into contact with food appropriate any more."