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Materials in contact with foodstuffs
1) OBJECTIVE
To lay down common rules for the composition of materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs.
2) COMMUNITY MEASURES
Council Directive 89/109/EEC of 21 December 1988 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs.
3) CONTENTS
The Directive applies to materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. Covering or coating substances, such as the substances covering cheese rinds, prepared meat products or fruit, which may be consumed together with the food, do not belong to this category.
Materials and articles must be manufactured so that they do not transfer their constituents to food in quantities which could:
- endanger human health, or
- bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the foodstuffs or a deterioration in their organoleptic properties.
Specific Directives will be adopted for plastics, regenerated cellulose film, elastomers and rubber, paper and board, ceramics, glass, metals and alloys, wood, including cork, textile products and paraffin wax or microcrystalline wax. The Directives may include a list of the authorized substances, special conditions of use, purity standards, etc.
The Commission will adopt these specific Directives in accordance with the procedure laid down, after consulting with the Standing Committee on Foodstuffs.
When a Member State establishes that the use of a material endangers human health although it complies with the relevant specific Directive, that Member State may temporarily suspend or restrict application of the provisions in question within its territory. The Commission will examine as soon as possible the grounds of this decision and will take appropriate action.
Requirements for marketing materials and articles coming into contact with foodstuffs, e.g. they must bear an indication such as the words "for food use"; they must bear the name and address of the manufacturer or a trade mark. This information must be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible.
4) deadline for implementation of the legislation in the member states
- 10.07.1990: permit trade in and the use of materials and articles complying with this Directive
- 10.01.1992: prohibit trade in and the use of materials and articles which do not comply with this Directive
5) date of entry into force (if different from the above)
6) references
Official Journal L 40, 11.02.1989Amended opinionOfficial Journal L 347, 28.11.1989
7) follow-up work
8) commission implementing measures
Directive 80/590/EEC - Official Journal L 151, 19.06.1980
Commission Directive of 9 June 1980 determining the symbol that may accompany materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs.
This Directive was adopted pursuant to Directive 76/893/EEC which has been repealed and replaced by Directive 89/109/EEC. It establishes in the annex the symbol which may accompany materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. The use of this symbol must be authorized by the Member States.