On January 5, 2023, the Thai Industrial Standards Institute notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of Draft Ministerial Regulations on microwavable food plastic bags for reheating and on plastic bags for foods.
On November 29, 2022, the Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Circular 2022-011, titled, “Guidelines on the Application and Issuance of Voluntary Certification of Food Contact Articles (FCA) Used for Prepackaged Processed Food Products.” The Guidelines set forth procedures and instructions for the submission of applications for voluntary certification of food contact articles in the Philippines.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) released the Interim Measures for the Supervision and Administration of the Quality and Safety of Food-Related Products (Interim Measures). This latest iteration of the measures, released on October 8, 2022, was developed from a draft version that was published for comment on July 31, 2020.
On October 28, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on three new resins for use in food-contact materials and articles. The substances and specifications are listed below.
On September 7, 2022, the China National Health Commission (NHC) gave final approval to one expanded use for a food-contact substance, two new resins, and one expanded use for a resin. The substances and specifications are listed below.
On August 23, 2022, China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on two new food-contact materials, expanded use for four food-contact materials, three new resins, and expanded use for one resin. Comments shall be submitted by September 16, 2022. The substances and specifications are listed below.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has taken further steps towards authorizing the use of certain recycled plastics in food-contact materials (FCMs) under its existing regulations. FSSAI issued a Notification of Draft Regulations on May 17, 2022, inviting public comment on an amendment authorizing the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) in food-contact applications.
On June 18, 2022, the Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) published Notification No. 435 (in Thai), “Regarding Qualities or Standards of Containers Made from Plastic.” The new standards, which entered into force on the same day they were published, include definitions and general safety requirements for plastic food packaging. For example, specific migration limits for certain types of food contact plastics, along with migration limits for various metals, are listed in Annex 1.
On July 1, 2022, China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on a new food-contact material: Copolymer of acrylamide, 2-methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, itaconic acid, and N,N’-methylenebis acrylamide (CAS No. 214495-32-6), for use in paper and paperboard at a maximum use level of 1% (on dried paper basis). The specific migration limit (SML) would be non-detect (ND) for acrylamide, where DL=0.01 mg/kg. Paper and paperboard containing this substance may not be used for radiation and the use temperature may not exceed 121o C.
The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced on May 12, 2022, an application process for the use of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) chips and flakes in food containers and packaging manufacturing.