In May 2021, the European Commission officially announced that it would assist eu member states to launch a mandatory plan to "stop the sale on the market of unauthorised plastic materials and products containing bamboo fiber for food contact".
bamboo qualitative plastic products
In recent years, more and more food contact materials and products made from plastics with bamboo and/or other "natural" materials have been put on the market. However, shredded bamboo, bamboo flour and many similar substances, including maize, are not included in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 10/2011. These additives must not be considered wood (Food contact Material Category 96) and require specific authorization. When such additives are used in polymers, the resulting material is plastic. Therefore, placing plastic food contact materials containing such unauthorised additives on the EU market does not meet the composition requirements set out in the regulation.
In some cases, the labeling and advertising of such food contact materials, such as "biodegradable", "eco-friendly", "organic", "natural ingredients" or even the mislabeling of "100% bamboo", may also be considered misleading by law enforcement authorities and thus inconsistent with the requirements of the Ordinance.
About bamboo fiber tableware
According to a risk assessment study on bamboo fiber tableware published by the German Federal Consumer Protection and Food Safety Authority (BfR), formaldehyde and melamine in bamboo fiber tableware migrate from the material to the food at high temperatures, and emit more formaldehyde and melamine than traditional melamine tableware. In addition, eu member states have also issued a number of notifications concerning the migration of melamine and formaldehyde in such products exceeding specific migration limits.
As early as February 2021, the Economic Union of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg issued a joint letter on the prohibition of bamboo fiber or other unauthorized additives in food contact materials in the EU. Demand the withdrawal of food contact products made from bamboo fibre plastics from the EU market.
In July 2021, Spain's Food Safety and Nutrition Authority (AESAN) launched a coordinated and specific plan to officially regulate the contact of plastic materials and products in food containing bamboo fibre, in line with the EU ban.
Other countries in the European Union have also introduced relevant policies. The Food Authority of Finland, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and Anti-fraud of France have all issued articles calling for a ban on bamboo fibre products. In addition, the RASFF notification has been reported by Portugal, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Estonia and Malta on bamboo fiber products, which were banned from entering or withdrawing from the market because bamboo fiber is an unauthorized additive.
Anbotek warm reminder
Anbotek hereby reminds relevant enterprises that bamboo fiber food contact plastic materials and products are illegal products, should immediately withdraw such products from the EU market. Operators who wish to use these additives must apply to EFSA for authorization of plant fibre in accordance with General Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on Materials and Articles intended to come into contact with food.
Post time: Oct-19-2021
