The Chinese National Health Commission published two draft proposals for food contact material (FCM) safety standards; focus on general safety standards and silicone rubber FCMs; public consultation open until December 15
May 25, 2023
Chinese government and industry work on FCM regulation
China amending the national food contact material (FCM) regulation for the first time since 2016; amendments would expand use of previously approved food contact chemicals (FCCs) and food additives; redefines FCM to clarify that packaging material must contact the food item; industry association issues draft guidance; regulatory agencies approve or in process of approving multiple new FCCs
March 10, 2023
China publishes amendment to standard on uses of additives in FCMs
National Health Commission publishes draft amendment to standard on uses of additives in food contact materials (FCMs) and articles; includes correction about specific migration limits of certain chemicals
February 3, 2023
Chinese safety authority approves three polymers for FCMs, with caveats
China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment seeks comments from industry on restricting the use of three polymer paints and coatings in food contact materials for infants and children
October 19, 2022
2022 FPF Workshop: FCM developments in the last decade
On the morning of the Food Packaging Forum’s annual workshop, speakers discuss changes in food contact material (FCM) regulation in the EU, US, and Asia; panels discuss key research and policy developments over the last decade
August 24, 2022
Comparing EU and Chinese FCM policy
News provider and consultancy ChemLinked publishes article comparing Chinese and European food contact material (FCM) policies
August 10, 2022
China publishes new and revised FCM standards
National Health Commission publishes updated paper and board food contact material (FCM) standard; includes changes to migration testing protocol; new bamboo and wood FCM standard
April 7, 2022
Global Food Contact Conference 2022: updates from Asia
Smithers conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials; speakers on day two review recent and upcoming changes to food packaging regulations in China, Japan, India, and Southeast Asia
February 22, 2022
Bisphenol A in bottles and children’s cups from less regulated markets
International Pollution Elimination Network (IPEN) finds 60% of sampled “BPA-free” plastic bottles and children’s cups from 8 countries contain bisphenol A (BPA); test 98 containers (23 “BPA-free”) from local markets in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania; Sri Lanka’s Environment Ministry says it will investigate
October 4, 2021
East Asian nations update food packaging guidelines
South Korea updates Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages; releases 2021 Food and Drug Safety White Paper; China updates precision level on food packaging migration requirements; Taiwan to monitor the use of nitrogen in food packaging; Hong Kong statutory authority encourages stricter standards for silicone food contact articles