Watch APPLiA's fifth digital interview, here.
In the context of the series of short digital interviews recently launched by APPLiA, the fifth episode features Lara Carrier, APPLiA Environment & Chemicals Policy Manager, on Food Contact Materials.
First, what are Food Contact Materials? Food plays a pivotal role, as part of our daily life. “Before consumption, food comes into contact with many materials during production, processing, storage, preparation, and serving. Such materials are called Food Contact Materials,” explained Ms Carrier. Examples of these include containers for transporting food, machinery like blenders or kitchen robots but also other types of kitchenware and tableware.
“Ensuring consumer safety is a key prerogative at the EU level and for our industry,” pointed out Ms Carrier, introducing the legal framework covering the matter. To date, the European Union has developed and implemented a set of rules which constitute the Food Contact Materials Framework Regulation, providing a harmonised EU legal framework and setting stringent requirements for materials. “As such, appliances are carefully designed and evaluated in order to comply with the Regulation and guarantee their high performance, reliability, and safety to all EU citizens.”
In view of the upcoming review process, while considering the current Regulation fully fit for purpose, APPLiA calls for harmonised rules at the EU level on certain materials as well as obligations on information exchange to each actor of a supply chain. In an effort to safeguard food safety and public health at all stages, “strengthening these aspects is of paramount importance to continue fostering materials safety and facilitating the free movement of goods across the Union,” outlined Ms Carrier.
This and much more in APPLiA’s fifth digital interview, available at this link.