Materials and Articles in Contact with Food
The term 'food contact material' (FCM) describes any material that may come into contact with a foodstuff. The most obvious example is food packaging but the term also encompasses materials (and articles) used in food processing, transport, preparation and consumption.
These materials may be made from plastic (including recycled), paper/board, rubber, metal, glass, ceramics or biobased materials etc. Many different materials and substances are used during the manufacture of FCMs, to ensure the final product has the desired chemical and physical properties. Any chemical constituents present in the FCM have the potential to transfer to the foods with which they come into contact. In addition, the chemicals present in any adhesives, coatings or printing inks applied to these substrates also have the potential to transfer. This transfer is known as chemical migration.
UK Regulation - Food Contact Materials
Following the United Kingdom’s (UK’s) exit from the European Union (EU), legislation on food contact materials and articles is assimilated in the UK. The overarching legislation applicable to all food contact materials and articles (the Framework Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004) specifies that food contact materials and articles should not transfer their constituents to food so as to endanger health or adversely affect the nature or quality of the food.
The FSA provides guidance on FCM authorisation requirements.
https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/food-contact-materials-regulations
They have information on banned or restricted products such as plastic kitchenware from China and Hong Kong under assimilated Regulation (EU) No. 284/2011, including First Points of Introduction (FPIs).
They also regularly issue guidance to food industry representatives and other stakeholders on a range of topics, often as a result of new regulations coming into force.