March 9 - The European Commission has set a maximum level for food packaging printed with inks containing 4-Methylbenzophenone or Benzophenone after it was found the potentially cancerous chemical was being used on some breakfast cereal boxes.
EC Health spokesperson Nina Papadoulaki told FLEXNEWS the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health (SCFCAH) had set the maximum acceptable level for the chemical on Friday amid safety concerns triggered by a series of recent recalls in a number of EU countries.
“Food contact materials printed with inks containing 4-Methylbenzophenone or Benzophenone should not be brought in contact with foods unless it is demonstrated in the company's in-house documentation that the transfer into food of the sum of 4-Methylbenzophenone and Benzophenone is below 0.6 mg per kg food,” she said.
She added the committee had also issued a recommendation to member states to monitor the levels in foods on the market and to report back their results to the EC.
Food packers using packaging printed with UV cured printing techniques must also have documentation in place that demonstrates “the application of appropriate measures to reduce the migration, that they are applying good manufacturing practice as set out in Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006,” said Ms Papadoulaki.
The EC said Friday it would continue to raise awareness within the food industry with respect to its responsibility of “ensuring that the food they produce is safe in all member states”. National food safety bodies would reinforce the message.
The situation will be re-evaluated once the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has delivered its final opinion on the matter, with a view to deciding whether there is a need to impose any harmonised measure at EU level.
The SCFCAH measure on 4-MBP came after it emerged the chemical was used in inks and lacquers applied on the surface of cereals packs, mainly made of cardboard, and followed recent product recalls in a host of member states including Belgium, Germany, Spain and Portugal.
It also followed an initial opinion from EFSA last week which said that while only limited data was currently available on the possible risks posed by 4-MBP, the chemical could be harmful to children. However, the food safety watchdog stated this may only occur with regular consumption at the highest levels.