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On May 11, 2022, the China National Health Commission (NHC) gave final approval to four new food-contact substances, expanded use for two food-contact substances, and nine new resins. The substances and specifications are listed below.

New Food-Contact Materials and Articles

Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) has proposed a reorganization of the Positive Lists (PL) for synthetic resins for food utensils, containers, and packaging (UCP). 

By way of background, on April 28, 2020, MHLW published Notification No. 196 of 2020, which required approval of substances used in “synthetic resins” for food-contact articles. The Notification was accompanied by a PL of substances that could be used to produce food-contact utensils, containers, and packaging (UCP). The current structure of the lists of permitted substances is shown below.

On April 22, 2022, China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on expanded use for one food-contact material and two new resins. The substances and specifications are listed below.

Food-Contact Materials with Expanded Usage

Keller and Heckman’s Japanese Relations Advisor Takashi (TK) Namba will be one of the speakers at the PLASTICS Industry Association’s 2022 Spring Food Packaging Conference, to be held June 7-9, 2022, in Baltimore, MD. The title of TK’s presentation is: “Japanese Positive List: Challenges While Japan Gets the Sustainability Push.” The program also will include presentations on microplastics, nitrosamines, and updates on international regulatory initiatives related to food packaging. 

The Thai Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a proposal to revise standards for certain plastic food packaging. The draft proposal (WTO document 22-0680 notified under G/SPS/N/THA/484) would revise standards such as the overall migration limit, the restrictions for primary aromatic amines (PAAs), the migration limits for various metals, and the specific migration limits for certain types of food plastics as listed in Annex I. 

On March 1, 2022, the China National Health Commission (NHC) approved 1 new food-contact material, 6 new food-contact additives, 9 food-contact materials with expanded usage, 2 new resins, and 1 new disinfectant. The substances and specifications are listed below.

New Food-Contact Materials

International regulatory law firm Keller and Heckman LLP augments Japanese client offerings with the addition of Takashi (TK) Namba, Advisor - Japanese Relations.

Keller and Heckman Senior Regulatory Counselor Eric Gu will be a presenter at the China & Asia Circular Plastics Summit, taking place January 12-13, 2022. The summit is being held virtually, as well as in person at the Parkline Century Park Hotel in Shanghai, China. Eric will present, “How to obtain US FDA No Obligation Letters (NOLs) to export recycled plastics to the U.S.?”

More information on the conference, including how to register, can be found here.
 

Keller and Heckman Scientist Chen Hu will be a presenter at the China & Asia Flexible Packaging Summit taking place January 10-11, 2022. The summit is being held virtually, as well as in person at the Crowne Plaza Century Hotel in Shanghai, China. Chen will present, “Managing China and Japan multilayer packaging regulations and ensuring the safe use of the final product.” 

More information on the conference, including how to register, can be found here.
 

On December 9, 2021, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA) requested comments on four new food-contact materials and articles, to include one new additive and three new resins. The substances and specifications are listed below.

New Additive for Food-Contact Materials and Articles