Denmark has published new legislation to
prohibit the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), sometimes known
as PFAS chemicals, in food contact materials and articles made from paper and
board.
The ban was announced on May 27, 2020,
with the publishing of Order No. 681 of May 25, 2020 – ‘Executive Order on Food
Contact Materials and Penal Code for Violation of Related EU Acts’ – in their Official
Gazette (Lovtidende A). This repeals Order No. 1248 of October 30, 2018 on
‘Food Contact Materials’. Denmark first signaled its intention to ban PFAS in September
2019.
The new Order has several important
provisions, including:
- Adds
definition for paper and board materials and articles made of cellulose-based natural fibers from virgin and recycled sources, and which may contain artificial fibers, functional additives, processing agents, polymeric binders, inks, lacquers, coatings and adhesives - Prohibiting PFAS in food contact paper and board materials, but allowing them if there is a functional barrier that prevents their migration into the food
- A transitional period for PFAS-containing food contact paper and board materials that are placed on the market before the effective date of July 1, 2020
- Editorial changes and deleting Appendix 7 ‘List of Appendices’
PFAS are a group of industrial chemicals that
contains over 4,700 substances. They are a danger to human health and will
accumulate in the environment because of their persistency. Prominent
substances in the group include:
- Perfluorooctane
sulfonic acid (PFOS) - Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)
Order No. 681 of May 25, 2020, does not limit
the scope of which PFAS are banned. It also fails to specify which PFAS migration
limits are acceptable for food contact materials and articles that have a
functional barrier.
The new regulation will come into effect
on July 1, 2020. Products that do not meet the scope of the new regulation but
do meet the general safety requirements in Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, and which
were placed on the market before July 1, 2020, may remain on the market until
stocks are exhausted
SGS Food Contact Material Services
SGS’s technical experts have extensive experience of testing materials and
articles in contact with food. They can ensure that your products meet the
appropriate regulations for food contact materials and pave the way for
compliance. SGS offers the full range of testing, including migration tests,
along with expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and
documentation review. Learn more
about SGS’s Food
Contact Material Services.
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Manager
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