The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published an interim final rule on standards for infant formula that includes a section on controls to prevent adulteration caused by ingredients, containers, and closures. Published in the Feb. 10, 2014, Federal Register (79 Fed.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has extended the effective date for compliance with the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labeling) Regulations, 2011 to July 1, 2014. These Regulations were initially scheduled to become effective on August 5, 2011, however, FSSAI has granted several extensions since that time.
China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) recently issued several new and expanded clearances for food-contact materials in China. Specifically, NHFCP's Announcement No. 8 (2013) approved four new additives and one new resin for use in food packaging, and expanded clearances for three other additives for food packaging. The chemical substances referenced in the Announcement are listed below.
The Malaysian Ministry of Health announced that a Health Certificate will be required for imported ceramic ware intended to be used in the preparation, packaging, storage, and delivery of food or otherwise exposed to food for human consumption effective January 1, 2014. The Health Certificate must be issued by a competent authority of the exporting country and be made available to the authorized health officer at the point of entry to Malaysia, upon request.
The European Union's (EU) Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) (Regulation (EU) No. 528/2012), which entered into force on September 1, 2013, includes food-contact materials and articles in its scope. This is in contrast to the Biocidal Products Directive (BPD), which specifically excluded food-contact materials and articles. The BPD was repealed by the BPR.
Croatia became the European Union's (EU) 28th Member State on July 1, 2013. As a prerequisite to joining the EU, new Member States have to adopt the full body of legislation in place in the EU (the so-called "acquis communautaire"), including all EU regulations on food contact-materials.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a final rule amending 21 C.F.R 175.300 of the food additive regulations to prohibit the use of bisphenol A (BPA)-based epoxy resins as coatings in infant formula packaging.
China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC), formerly known as the Ministry of Health (MOH), has issued the final approvals for food packaging materials petitioned under the country's "clean-up" procedures. The "clean-up" procedures allowed manufacturers of unapproved food packaging materials to file petitions prior to June 1, 2010, seeking an appropriate clearance.
The Chinese government approved a restructuring plan on March 14, 2013, which will result in extensive changes to China's regulatory agencies responsible for food and food packaging. A goal of the restructuring plan is to streamline food regulatory matters.
Since the beginning of 2013, legislation to restrict the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) or require labeling has been introduced in a number of states, including Connecticut, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, and Texas. A brief summary of these bills is provided below.