FSA open food contact compliance talks

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) says it will be holding the workshop for enforcement authorities and manufacturers to draw up a draft guidance for Declarations of Compliance (DoC) with the food contact laws outlined in regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004.

The regulation, which came into affect across the EU on 3 December 2004, sets out provision for the use of ‘active’ and ‘intelligent’ materials that come into contact with food products.

Active materials are substances designed to be activly released into food to directly extend a products shelf life, while ‘intellgient’ products are used to monitor the condition of food or the atmosphere within packaging, the FSA said.

Future trials​

Any Declaration of Compliance drawn up by the event will then have to be supplied by manufacturers upon the request of enforcement authorities to prove that all restrictions on substances in contact with food are being observed.

The draft guidelines drawn up at the November workshop could help form a trial control campaign by next year allowing those enforcing the regulations to work with manufacturers and packagers to test the practicality of such measures, the FSA said.

Aside from the control program, the agency said that providing understandable and enforceable regulations for food contact materials would be an other vital issue for attendees.

In their current form, existing rules have been set out for cellulose film, ceramics and plastics, with FSA stating that the already detailed provisions for plastics used in food contact could provide a blueprint for other materials as the legislation develops.

Speakers​

Amongst the attendees, the FSA says that a representative of Danish Veterinary and Food Administration will detail its work to ensure compliance with the Commission rules.

An unspecified food manufacturer will also be detailing its own experience in providing Declarations of Compliance to authorities from a national perspective.

The FSA is inviting numerous stakeholders to the event, which is free to attend, from fillers and retailers to trading standards officials and port health officers in a bid to ensure greater compliance.

Details regarding applying for the event can be found here​.