JAPAN:Revising Specifications & Standards for Foods and Food Additives

摘要

In Japan, the management of food contact materials (FCM) is being switched from the negative list system to the positive list system. Synthetic resinsare the first target materials for the positive list system. The amendment contains the following four parts:Base polymers to form synthetic resins (Table 1(1))Base polymers to form synthetic resins for coating purpose and etc. (Table 1(2))Minor monomers used for polymerization of base polymers (Table 1(3))Additives, coating agents, etc. (Table 2)The amendment will be effective beginning June 1, 2020 with a 5 year transition period. For utensils, containers and packaging (UCP) manufactured or imported for sale before the implementation date, even if unlisted substances are used in synthetic resins, the same type of UCP can be manufactured or imported for sale before May 31, 2025. Otherwise, only the listed materials can be used in synthetic resins.