SGS Announces Recent Publication of RASFF Market Surveillance Report for Food Contact Materials
The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) annual report 2013 (1) presents the market surveillance activities related to food and feedstuff (2), including food contact materials (FCM).
Taunusstein, Germany, August 22, 2014 --(PR.com)-- The total number of notifications has decreased compared to the previous year by 13%. However, notifications for FCM are still in the top 10 of all findings by Member State authorities in 2013.
Notification to the RASFF
The criteria for notification to the RASFF (3) are provided in Article 50 of European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 (4). Whenever a member of the network has any information relating to the existence of a serious direct or indirect risk to human health deriving from food or feed, this information is immediately notified to the Commission under the RASFF. The Commission immediately transmits the information to the members of the network.
In 2013, a total of 3205 original notifications were transmitted through the RASFF, and 223 are connected to FCM. This represents 6.9% of all reported incidents in 2013. However, this is a positive trend as the FCM related notifications accounted for 8.2% of all findings in 2012 and 8.4% in 2011.
Heavy Metal Contamination in Food is of Highest Concern
The most frequent findings for FCM are connected to migration of heavy metals. Migration of chromium and manganese are of particular concern. Both parameters together account for 43.5% of all FCM notifications in 2013. It has been reported that the country of origin of the concerned products is China in both cases. The most active EU Member State for surveillance of FCM in 2013 has been Italy.
Another issue of interest for market surveillance in regard of chemical safety for FCM has been the migration of primary aromatic amines (PAA) in kitchen helpers as presented in the infographic (5) published additionally to the 2013 RASFF report. However, compared to 2012, the migration of PAA and formaldehyde from plastic products no longer rank in the top 10 notifications. This implies that the measures implemented by Regulation (EU) No. 284/2011 (6) for the import of polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware and applicable from July 2011 show some effect.
The infographic also indicates that physical safety of FCM was a concern as some soft drink bottles have been reported with a risk of breakage.
RASSF notifications top 10 in 2013 by country of origin are summarized in Table 1 (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-13514-eu%E2%80%932013-market-surveillance-report-food-contact-materials-a4-en-14.pdf) within the latest Safeguards Bulletin.
About SGS Hardgoods Services
The global footprint of SGS will support clients in product compliance with global RoHS (EU, China, Korea, US, etc.), REACH/SVHC, textiles or hardgoods, CPSIA or other toy regulations and many more consumer product related requirements like packaging materials (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Packaging/Testing/Food-Contact-Tests.aspx) or battery requirements.
For further details, please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert.
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.
Notification to the RASFF
The criteria for notification to the RASFF (3) are provided in Article 50 of European Commission Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 (4). Whenever a member of the network has any information relating to the existence of a serious direct or indirect risk to human health deriving from food or feed, this information is immediately notified to the Commission under the RASFF. The Commission immediately transmits the information to the members of the network.
In 2013, a total of 3205 original notifications were transmitted through the RASFF, and 223 are connected to FCM. This represents 6.9% of all reported incidents in 2013. However, this is a positive trend as the FCM related notifications accounted for 8.2% of all findings in 2012 and 8.4% in 2011.
Heavy Metal Contamination in Food is of Highest Concern
The most frequent findings for FCM are connected to migration of heavy metals. Migration of chromium and manganese are of particular concern. Both parameters together account for 43.5% of all FCM notifications in 2013. It has been reported that the country of origin of the concerned products is China in both cases. The most active EU Member State for surveillance of FCM in 2013 has been Italy.
Another issue of interest for market surveillance in regard of chemical safety for FCM has been the migration of primary aromatic amines (PAA) in kitchen helpers as presented in the infographic (5) published additionally to the 2013 RASFF report. However, compared to 2012, the migration of PAA and formaldehyde from plastic products no longer rank in the top 10 notifications. This implies that the measures implemented by Regulation (EU) No. 284/2011 (6) for the import of polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware and applicable from July 2011 show some effect.
The infographic also indicates that physical safety of FCM was a concern as some soft drink bottles have been reported with a risk of breakage.
RASSF notifications top 10 in 2013 by country of origin are summarized in Table 1 (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-13514-eu%E2%80%932013-market-surveillance-report-food-contact-materials-a4-en-14.pdf) within the latest Safeguards Bulletin.
About SGS Hardgoods Services
The global footprint of SGS will support clients in product compliance with global RoHS (EU, China, Korea, US, etc.), REACH/SVHC, textiles or hardgoods, CPSIA or other toy regulations and many more consumer product related requirements like packaging materials (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Packaging/Testing/Food-Contact-Tests.aspx) or battery requirements.
For further details, please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert.
SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.
Contact
SGS Consumer Testing Services
Dr. Udo Krischke
+49 6128 744 235
www.sgs.com/hardgoods
Consumer Testing Service
Global Technical Manager RSTS
SGS Germany GmbH
Dr. Udo Krischke
+49 6128 744 235
www.sgs.com/hardgoods
Consumer Testing Service
Global Technical Manager RSTS
SGS Germany GmbH
Contact
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