SGS Informs on Malaysia Notifying WTO to Amend Draft Regulation 27B on Food Contact Plastics

Fanling, China, May 02, 2015 --(PR.com)-- On 17 March 2015, the Food Safety and Quality Division of the Ministry of Health of Malaysia notified the WTO of draft Regulation 27B under the Food Regulations 1985 to define specific migration limits for a number of substances. It is interesting to note that the list of substances contains 7 heavy metals (entries 1-7) and 15 organic substances, including 5 phthalates (entries 8, 9 and12-14), formaldehyde, primary aromatic amines and vinyl chloride. The proposed standard for demonstration of compliance is Malaysian Standard MS 2234 ‘Plastic Materials and Articles intended to come into Contact with Food’.

Migration Limits of Substances in Food Contact Packaging

According to the notification by the WTO, the final date for comments will be 16 May 2015. Highlights of the notification and specific migration limits in food or food simulants are summarized in a table within the latest SGS Safeguards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-05715-malaysia-notifies-wto-food-contact-plastics-a4-en-15.pdf). For full details of all substances, please see draft Regulation 27B.

References:

- Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures - Notification - Malaysia - Chemical substances, World Trade Organization (https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/FE_Search/FE_S_S006.aspx?MetaCollection=WTO&SymbolList=%22G/SPS/N/MYS/34%22+OR+%22G/SPS/N/MYS/34/*%22)

- Draft Regulation 27B (https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2015/SPS/MYS/15_1238_00_e.pdf)

About SGS Testing and Safety of Consumer Goods

Throughout a global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including consultancy and analytical testing for food contact plastics (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Packaging/Testing/Food-Contact-Tests.aspx) for Malaysia and international markets.

Please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert for further information.

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