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China’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) published a Notice, titled, Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control in Business Fields, on August 31. The Notice stipulates that local authorities shall facilitate the establishment of a centralized purchase and sale system for shopping bags in grocery markets.

On August 15, 2020, China National Health Commission (NHC) published approvals for three new food-contact materials, eight new resins, and expanded use for five food-contact materials. The substances and specifications are listed below.

New Food-Contact Additives

On August 5, 2020, China's National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on one new food-contact substance, two new food-contact resins, and expanded use of four food-contact substances. The substances and specifications included in these draft clearances are described below.

New Food-Contact Substances

On July 20, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) published draft Lists of Existing Substances with proposed revisions to Appended Table 1 of MHLW Notification No. 370, the Positive List (PL) of substances used in synthetic resins for utensils, containers and packaging (UCP). The draft Lists can be accessed from MHLW’s website.

The Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) revised the Standards and Specifications for Food Containers, Utensils, and Packages. The changes were announced in Notification No. 43 of 2020 (in Korean). The main revisions, which came into force on May 29, 2020, are listed below.

China's National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) has solicited comments on two new food-contact substances. The substances and specifications are listed below.

On June 2, 2020, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) approved seven new food-contact materials and ten new resins and approved expanded use for eight food-contact materials and three resins. The substances and specifications are listed below.

New Food-Contact Materials and Articles

The Republic of Korea recently notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its proposal to amend the “Standards and Specification for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages.” The most recent version of the standards and specifications was published in 2019 (see Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety website).

The Thai Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering updating the country’s regulations on plastic food contact materials to allow for the use of recycled plastic in contact with food. As part of that review, the Thai FDA has requested information on chemicals used in the manufacture of certain plastic food-contact materials (FCMs). It appears that the Thai FDA is considering revising Ministry of Health Notification No. 295 (2005) on plastic food containers to permit the use of these recycled resins.