On May 29, 2019, China’s National Health Commission (NHC) published information on the approval of a new food-contact additive, six new resins, and the expanded use of eight food-related products.

The new food-contact additive is Octadecanamide, N,N'-1,2-ethanediylbis-, reaction products with azacyclotridecan-2-one homopolymer and 1-isocyanatooctadecane (CAS: 338462-62-7), which can be used in coatings at a maximum level of 2%.

The newly approved resins are:

On May 20, 2019, China's National Health Commission (NHC) published the long-awaited draft of Food Safety National Standard Adhesives for Use in Food-Contact Materials and Articles (draft Adhesives Standard) for public comments. The draft Adhesives Standard applies to adhesives used in food-contact applications and proposes the following definition for "Adhesives Used in Food-Contact Materials and Articles":

"Materials that create adhesion by physical or chemical mode in food-contact materials and articles, directly or indirectly in contact with food." 

China's National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) solicited comments on five new food-contact additives and resins. The new food additives are:

In 2018, the food and food packaging industry witnessed many changes within China's regulatory system, beginning with the National People's Congress (NPC) - China's national legislative body - embarking on a massive restructure of its organizational bodies, which extended to many of its food regulatory agencies. (For more information on the restructure, see the PackagingLaw.com article, China Establishes New Food and Food Related Agencies.) 

On January 3, 2019, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) announced new regulations with respect to food packaging. The Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018 replace the packaging provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2011. New labeling regulations were published separately. Food businesses will have until July 1, 2019 to comply with the new regulations.

On October 8, 2018, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on 15 new types of food-related products, including six new resins. The resins are:

China Published Draft Approvals for Eight FCSs

China’s Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) has published a request for comments on draft approvals for eight food-contact substances (FCSs). The FCSs are shown in the table below. Comments are due by September 16, 2018. 

China’s National Health Commission (NHC) has published a draft Food Safety Standard on Food-Contact Composite Materials and Articles. Last year, NHC replaced the National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) and now handles the development of Food Safety Standards in China. (See PL.com article, China Establishes New Food and Food Related Agencies, for more information on the reorganization.)

The Chinese Center for Food Safety and Risk Assessment (CFSA) just released on its website draft approvals for eight food-contact substances. The new substances are: