Food Contact Materials - European Regulation 450/2009 Active and Intelligent Materials Packaging

European Regulation 450/2009 on active and intelligent materials and articles intended to contact food substances.

The new regulation speak about two classes of materials and articles: active materials and intelligent materials.

With active materials are intended materials that absorb or release substances to mantain food in good conditions or improve the conservation time of food. They are studied to release to food substances or to environment, specific substances.

With intelligent materials are intended materials and articles that keep in control the food’s conditions or the conditions of environment in which they are placed.

Active and intelligent substances could be placed in a separated container external to packaging or directly added to packing material. The substances providing this active function should be evaluated according to this new regulation. Meanwhile, the other components involved, such as the container or the packaging in which the substance is incorporated should be evaluated according to the european or national dipositions regarding that material.

The evaluation of safety of substances used (or combination of substances) must be evaluated by specific Authority for this matter, evaluating eventual risks or problems related to its use.

Active articles and materials could provide substances designed to be released on food products. For this reason, since it could turn into the food, they should be evaluated also according to european and national legislations referred to food products (in example legislaztion on food additives).

Intteligent packing system instead, designed to furnish to customer info about the status of food, should not release tehir costitutive product to the food. They could be placed on external packaging of food product or could be separated from the food by functional layer (layer specifically designed to contact food substances, layer “inhert” for foods).

If there is the reasonable risk of eating by customer, active and inteligent materials/articles, the regulation establish the presence of specific symbol and label that product should provide (i.e. the statement “DO NOT EAT” and specific symbol reported on regulation in object).

The regulation 450/2009 also provides a specific authorization process and data to submit to competent authorities for new active substances or intelligent materials for evaluation.

Further information will be provided.

See more at www.foodcontactmaterials.info

www.foltranluca.com