In publishing a consultation on the UK's proposed new law to implement the EU directive, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said it would also consolidate three other laws & amendments on plastic materials into a new, single UK legislation, making it simpler for food companies to follow the rules, the regulator stated in a consultation document, which was published recently, along with a draft of the legislation. Currently, the UK's legislation on food contact plastics are spread across 5 pieces of law. The proposed UK law would set out a list of offences where products subject to the provisions are in breach of them, defences against alleged breaches of the EU regulations & penalties. The EU regulation consolidates 2 directives on epoxy derivatives intended to come into contact with foods & adds more safety requirements on their use in food contact plastics, adhesives and coatings. From 1 January the EC regulation permits trade in the use of materials and articles containing 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane bis(2,3-epoxypropyl) ether (Badge) throughout the EU. It also re-affirms the ban on the use of BFDGE (Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane bis (2,3-epoxypropyl)ethers) and NOGE (Novolac glycidyl ethers).
