EU Legislation
Repealed EU Legislation Current EU Legislation Future EU Legislation EU guidelines
Topics: Active and Intelligent Materials Additive plastic complete GMP Introduction Recycling Traceability
Introduction to EU legislation
A few decades ago, the EU has started with the harmonization of the legislation on food contact materials. At this moment only for a few materials a legislation does exist. Legislation for the ceramics and regenerated cellulose can be considered as complete, while the legislation on plastics, rubber, coatings and adhesives in the building phase. For a more detailed description on the status of the different materials, choose Food Contact Materials on the left frame.
Two types of legislations can be distinguished:
One important Regulation is the framework Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004. This regulation does apply to all food contact materials and has some definitions, restrictions and requirements:
| Article 3 | Does contain general safety requirements like:
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| Article 4 | Active and Intelligent materials may be used if… |
| Article 6 | Member states may maintain or adopt national provisions. These are summarized in the "National Legislation" on the left frame by country and in the "materials" on the left frame summarized by type of material. |
| Article 15 | The symbol (which is identical to the logo of this website, see upper left of this page) which may be used for food contact materials. |
| Article 16 | Declaration of compliance and appropriate documentation that demonstrate compliance must be made available on demand of authorities |
| Article 17 | Traceability; for more information click here |
In the following pages it can be seen which directives have been repealed and therefore, are not supposed to be used (although a lot of people do still use them. Which directives and regulation do apply on the EU level at this moment and is active. Furthermore new upcoming legislation is presented in future legislation.