The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, Brussels / Belgium; www.efsa.europa.eu) has received its first three scientific opinions on the safety of processes to recycle PET for use in food contact materials. None of the 10 processes reviewed are considered to give rise to safety concerns if operated under well-defined and controlled conditions. The opinions are the first of a series to be issued over the next 18 months on recycled plastic materials for food use and will contribute to the decisions of the European Commission and member states relating to the authorisation of the evaluated processes.

EFSA’s panel on food contact materials, enzymes, flavourings and processing aids (CEF) said the recycling processes considered in the three adopted opinions would not give rise to safety concerns if the proportion of PET from non-food consumer applications does not exceed 5%.

EFSA evaluations relate to the safety of mechanical recycling processes, where collected plastics used in mechanical recycling may have been previously contaminated with chemicals that are not suitable for food contact applications. Producers are required to demonstrate that their process can reduce chemical contaminants in the recycled plastic to a level where potential migration of any residual chemicals does not pose a risk to human health.