FOOD AND HEALTH ESSENTIALS

Switzerland strengthens regulations on food contact material

Switzerland’s Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs (also known as BLV, the acronym for the agency’s name in German) has implemented new requirements for many types of common food contact materials.

According to an announcement by the BLV late last year, the new requirements are applicable to 10 separate types of food contact materials (FCMs), including metals and metal alloys, virgin and recycled plastics, ceramics, glass and paper products. Also covered are certain paraffin, waxes and dyes, as well as printing inks. The new requirements are based in part on existing directives and regulations in the European Union (EU) that address material and chemical migration limits and testing procedures for FCMs.

The new requirements take effect as of May 1, 2017, except for a new prohibition against bisphenol A (BPA) in polycarbonate baby bottles, which takes effect as of May 1, 2018.

The complete text of the BLV announcement regarding the new Swiss regulations is available in Germany, French and Italian at the BLV website.