The Japanese Government has announced that the country will transition to a positive list system for regulating food-contact materials on April 1, 2020. Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) initially announced the possibility of moving to a positive list system for regulating food-contact materials in July 2015.

China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) approved six new food-contact substances on March 26, 2018. The new substances are shown in the chart below.

China's National People's Congress (NPC) passed a major cabinet reshuffle plan on March 17, 2018. The plan — which impacts China’s food regulatory regime, including food-contact materials — establishes three new regulatory agencies, namely:

The Chinese Center for Food Safety and Risk Assessment (CFSA) has released draft approvals for four food-contact substances. The substances—along with CAS number(s), use scope, and maximum use levels—are as follows:

The European Union (EU) was the only jurisdiction to submit comments on India’s Draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2017 by the January 5, 2018 deadline. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) notified the Draft Regulations to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on November 6, 2017.

On January 3, 2018, China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) issued a request for comments on the forthcoming amendment to China’s National Food Safety Standard on General Rules for Migration Testing for Food Contact Materials and Articles (GB 31604.1-2015). Comments are due by February 28, 2018.    

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare (MHLW) recently released GMP guidelines as part of the country’s move to a positive list system for regulating food-contact materials.* The GMP guidelines include a proposed positive list of 32 resins that are based on the existing positive lists developed by the Japan Hygienic PVC Association (JHPA) and the Japan Hygienic Olefin and Styrene Plastics Association (JHOSPA).  Masakazu Isurugi, Managing Director of JHPA, reported this development to attendees at Keller and Heckman’s inaugural Food Packaging Law Seminar, held in Tokyo, Japan, on No

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) regarding new Proposed Draft Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations. FSSAI asked that WTO Member Countries send objections or suggestions regarding the draft proposal to spstbt.enqpt@fssai.gov.in within sixty days of the Notification, which was issued on November 6, 2017.

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has issued a final report that details the steps that should be taken to develop and implement a positive list system for regulating food-contact materials. The Report, prepared by the Committee on the Regulation of Food Utensils, Containers and Packaging, was published on June 16, 2017, and an English version was posted on MHLW’s website on Aug. 7, 2017.

Keller and Heckman attorneys and scientists will be among the speaker at the 4th International Conference on Food Contact Compliance. They will be presenting on the following topics: