Summary
European Union (EU) legislation of materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs affects a broad number of products and packaging materials. Guidance for these materials was originally set out with the framework regulation of Council Directive 89/109/EEC on 21 December 1988, but has since been replaced by the 2004 Regulation 1935/2004/EC. The scope of the Directive included a wide range of items from ceramics to metals. Within this Framework Directive, a number of material-specific Directives were added to address issues unique to each material. In regard to plastics alone, there are at least five pieces of legislation regulating contact of other materials with foodstuffs.

To cut through the present system’s complexity, the Commission is currently drafting a single directive, a so-called plastics “Super Directive,” to address and consolidate all aspects of food contact legislation. In addition to replacing the Plastics Directive, the Super Directive will introduce a number of new elements. Among these are multilayer materials, a functional barrier concept, reinforced compliance procedures and imposed record keeping, as well as a “fat reduction factor” (FRF). The Commission intends to finalize the Super Directive by 2006 and put into force by 2007.