SGS Reports: Good Manufacturing Practices for Food Packaging in Brazil

Barueri, Brazil, October 22, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The packaging material segment is controlled by several regulations in Brazil that ensure chemical safety of the substances used in their formulas. However, only Settlement 91/2001 (1) defines sanitarian parameters for the manufacturing process. Even in this case, there is no specific guidance on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). Due to this regulatory gap, it is not unusual that packaging industry applies food processing requirements for food contact materials.

GMP for Food Contact Materials

This agenda has been under discussion since 2008, when ANVISA developed guidance for GMP in collaboration with the Technical Committee formally installed following Settlement 52/2005. Now, to finally close this regulatory gap and lack of standardization, the regulatory agency developed exclusive GMP requirements and submitted them to public consultation no. 42/2015 (http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/wps/content/anvisa+portal/anvisa/regulacao+sanitaria/assuntos+de+interesse/consultas+publicas/assuntos+de+interesse/consultas+publicas+em+andamento/2015051542). Annex I of the public consultation highlights a detailed checklist on GMP connected to materials intended to be in contact with food. Further highlights on the scope are indicated in the below list, regarding processes, facilities and staff requirements:

- Facilities Requirements
- Devices, furniture and utensils
- Pest control
- Sanitization
- Personal health and hygiene
- Waste Management
- Production (raw materials, process and storage)
- GMP Guideline and mandatory Operational Procedures
- Responsibility

Reference:

(1) Settlement 91/2001 – 11 May 2001 (in Portuguese) (http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/wps/wcm/connect/a97001004d8b6861aa00ebc116238c3b/ALIMENTOS+RESOLU%C3%87%C3%83O+-+RDC+N%C2%BA+91,+DE+11+DE+MAIO+DE+2001+-+Crit%C3%A9rios+Gerais.pdf?MOD=AJPERES)

About SGS Food Safety Services

SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that consumer products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials through testing (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Food/Processors-and-Suppliers/Testing-and-Analytical-Services/Food-Contact-Tests.aspx) and pave the way for compliance. From overall migration test to expert advice on emerging regulations and compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust.

For further information, please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert.

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