Metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles
Second edition of the technical guide for manufacturers and regulators
Metals and alloys are used in food contact materials and articles such as food-processing equipment, containers, wrappings and household utensils. Human health can be affected when metal ions from materials end up in food, alter their organoleptic characteristics or are consumed in greater amounts than the values recommended in this guide.
The metals and alloys technical guide is a collaborative work of the European Committee for Food Contact Materials and Articles (CD-P-MCA), the steering committee of the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) which addresses emerging risks to human health arising from the use of food contact materials and articles. It describes the chemical elements that constitute metallic food contact materials and articles or may be present as impurities and sets out the specific release limits (SRLs) for those elements, where appropriate. It also includes a chapter dedicated to release testing which provides up-to-date instructions for sampling, measuring of test specimens and calculating results.
The revised second edition represents a significant update over the initial 2013 edition. It includes the Council of Europe Resolution CM/Res(2020)9 on the safety and quality of materials and articles for contact with food, which lays out the general principles applicable in this area.
Supplementing this legal instrument, the guide takes into account scientific opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued since 2013, as well as relevant publications by national risk assessment bodies, compiled through a concerted consultation among stakeholders. The review of safety data has resulted in changes to SLRs for chromium, manganese and thallium, and a new section on zirconium has been added. Enforcement officers may apply the SRLs and test procedures directly and national policy makers can rely on the guide’s harmonised provisions when adopting legislative and other measures designed to reduce health risks arising from exposure to certain metals.
Get your copy
- Download the electronic version of the guide for free: “Metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles – A technical guide for manufacturers and regulators”.
- Order a printed copy through the EDQM WebStore. (coming soon)
Visit FreePub, the EDQM’s free publications website, to find the latest information on analytical methods and guidance documents in the category “Food contact”.