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The German Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) published the fifth draft of the German "Twenty-first Ordinance amending the Consumer Goods Ordinance" on July 14, 2014. The draft Ordinance, commonly referred to as the "draft Printing Inks Ordinance" would apply to printing inks applied to both the food-contact and nonfood-contact sides of food-contact materials.

The French government has released two guidance documents on food-contact legislation. The first document, published by the French enforcement authority Directorate General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF), provides clarification on the enforcement of France's ban on bisphenol A (BPA), Law No. 2010-729, as amended by law No. 2012-1442 of December 24, 2012.

A newly organized European Union consortium, Polymark, has undertaken an initiative to increase the availability of recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) food and beverage containers. EU Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come in contact with food does not allow plastic containers that have been used for a non food application to be recycled and subsequently used in an application where it will come into contact with food.

The Danish Order on a register of mixtures and articles that contain nanomaterials as well as the requirement for producers and importers to report to the register entered into force on June 18, 2014. The Order establishes a Nano Product Register of mixtures and articles that contain nanomaterials and are intended for sale to the general public. The Danish Environmental Protection Agency will maintain the Nano Product Register.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has determined that the use of silanated silicon dioxide, which contains synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide in nanoform, does not raise a safety concern when used as an additive in all types of plastics. EFSA's Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) was asked by the European Commission to re-evaluate the substance since the EU Plastics Regulations Regulation 10/2011 requires that all food-contact materials in nanoform be specifically approved.

The European Commission (EC) has issued a regulation establishing maximum levels of cadmium in chocolate products and infant foods and adjusting maximum levels for other food products. Commission Regulation (EU) No 488/2014 amends Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006, which sets maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Management Board has appointed Dr. Berhard Url Executive Director of the Authority, effective June 1, 2014. A veterinarian by training, Dr. Url has been EFSA's acting Executive Director since September 2013. He joined EFSA in June 2012 as Director of Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance.

Bastiaan Schupp will assume responsibility for Food Contact Materials within the European Commission (EC) on May 1, 2014, when Annette Schäfer, who has held the position since 2006, becomes the Secretariat General of the EC. Mr.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) has approved France's proposal to strengthen the harmonized classification and labelling (CLH) of bisphenol A (BPA) from a category 2 reproductive toxin to a category 1B toxin. France submitted the proposal in August 2013, claiming that BPA adversely affected sexual function and fertility.

Using solutions containing peroxyacetic acid (PAA) to reduce contamination from pathogens on poultry carcasses and meat would not pose toxicity concerns, concluded the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in a scientific opinion. EFSA issued the Scientific Opinion on PAA in response to a request from the European Commission based on an application dossier submitted by the U.S.