'Food contact material' refers to packaging that comes into contact with food. Other examples of food contact material include:

• cookware/ceramic ware
• cutlery /crockery
• work surfaces
• food processing equipment and machinery

What are food contact materials?

The European Food Safety Authority has produced this video to explain what food contact materials are:

How is food contact material regulated?

European Regulation 1935/2004 governs food contact materials. This regulation lays down chemical safety requirements for food contact materials. The law protects:

• human health
• the nature, substance and quality of the food in the packaging

The regulation covers all food contact material. It states specific controls on some particular groups of food contact materials, including:

• 'active' food contact materials - these release a substance into the food to extend its shelf-life, or to maintain or improve its condition
• 'intelligent' food contact materials - these monitor and react to the condition of the food
• plastics and plastics recycling processes for food contact use
• ceramics
• regenerated cellulose film (RCF)

There are also specific rules for:

• the substances known as BADGE , BFDGE and NOGE
• all plastics, adhesives and coatings
• the use of vinyl chloride monomer in food contact plastics

How the FSA protects consumers

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works to protect the public from chemicals that could transfer into food from food contact materials.

The FSA manages research and surveys, designed to:

• identify which substances might migrate from various materials
• develop or improve methods for detecting chemicals that may transfer into food

Read the FSA's guidance on food contact materials.

Sticky labels are often used on fruit and vegetables. They usually give details of what type of product it is and where it comes from. Adhesives are also widely used with other food contact materials.

How is the adhesive in food packaging regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations require that adhesives used in food packaging must not:

• affect the food
• make the food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

Monitoring the safety of adhesives

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissions research and surveys on chemicals that might transfer to food.

The industry must ensure the chemicals they use comply with the law. They must carry out whatever research that may entail.

Adhesives are part of a variety of food packaging materials. For example, they are used to:

• manufacture rigid packs from cartonboard (box closures)
• seal flexible packaging - including wrappers, pouches and lidding
• attach labels
• laminate (bind together) layers of food contact materials

Chemical substances in adhesives

Several chemical substances are present in adhesives. When used in food packaging, these substances could transfer or migrate into food. The FSA has funded work to check for chemical migration from selected adhesive systems.

Although the research detected several substances in the adhesives, it only found low (parts per billion) levels of migration into foods. When only a small area of adhesive is used and it is not intended to touch the food directly, the risk of migration is low.

Aluminium is found in some foods for several reasons. It might be in a food because:

• it occurs naturally 
• it migrates to food from aluminium cooking utensils and packaging

Which foods contain most aluminium?

Some plants have high levels of aluminium, including:

• tea
• some herbs
• some leafy vegetables

Are the levels of aluminium in food safe?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly measures the amount of aluminium in our diet. They have found that levels of aluminium consumed in food are well within the World Health Organisation's safety guidelines.

How is aluminium from food contact materials regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations set out the general safety requirements for metals and alloys.

Materials such as aluminium must be manufactured in a way that prevents them affecting the food or making it harmful. They must not change the nature, substance or quality of the food.

Safely using foil and aluminium cookware

Studies have shown that cooking foods in aluminium containers increased the aluminium content in the food, but only by a very small amount. However, it is best not to use aluminium products with very acidic foods such as rhubarb as it can give a taint to such foods. 

Bisphenol-A or BPA, is a chemical used to make plastics. This includes materials that come into contact with food such as refillable drinks bottles and food storage containers.

BPA is also contained within the resins used to coat the insides of some food cans. This coating allows producers to heat canned food to kill off bacteria without the metal in the can contaminating the food contents.

Endocrine disrupters

BPA is one of a large number of substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems. These substances are called 'endocrine disrupters'.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. Research is still going on to establish whether BPA has this effect in humans. Results so far show the body metabolises it and removes it as waste.

Rules for using BPA in food packaging

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules.

By law, materials that contain BPA must not:

• make food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

BPA may be used in food contact materials, so long as no more than 0.05 milligrams per kilogram migrates into the food. Specific rules forbid migration of BPA from varnishes and coatings intended to be in contact with:

• infant formula
• baby foods
• products intended for young children

For more information, read the Food Standard's Agency (FSA) guidance on BPA in plastic.

The FSA's Food Contact Materials Team can also provide more information about the safety of BPA used in the food industry. You can contact them by email at foodcontactmaterial@gov.uk.

It is safe to use cling film as long you use it correctly. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced advice for consumers on using cling film safely. It has also made recommendations to manufacturers on labelling their products to help consumers use them properly.

Guidance on using cling film safely

Not every type of cling film is suitable for all uses. To protect the quality and taste of food it is important not to:

• use cling film where it could melt into the food - eg in conventional ovens or with pots and pans on cooker hobs
• allow cling film to touch the food when re-heating or cooking it in a microwave oven
• use cling film in contact with high fat foods unless the manufacturer's advice says it is suitable for this

High fat foods include:

• some types of cheese
• raw meats with a layer of fat
• fried meats
• pastry products
• cakes with butter icing or chocolate coatings

How plastic food contact materials are regulated

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Phthalates belong to a group of chemicals called 'phthalic acid diesters'. These are found in many household items and in some food packaging. It is especially common in packaging that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Facts about phthalates in food

Phthalates take a long time to break down in the environment, so they are sometimes found at low levels in some foods.

Research has shown that phthalates can affect the liver in animals. The level of phthalates that is consumed in food is not thought to be a risk for humans.

There has been some concern that phthalates may be harmful to humans because they are 'endocrine disrupters'. These are substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. However, there's no conclusive evidence that exposure to these chemicals has a harmful effect on humans.

Monitoring the potential toxic effects of phthalates in food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is aware of public concern about the effects of phthalates. It commissions chemical safety research and surveys of substances in food contact materials that might be harmful to human health.

Find FSA's chemical hazards in food and feed research.

Safe limits for phthalates in food

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets limits for the safe use of phthalates in food contact materials.

The EFSA reviews all the scientific evidence to set a 'tolerable daily intake' (TDI). This is the amount of phthalates in food or drinking water that people can safely consume without harm.

The European Commission has set a legal limit for the amount of phthalates that can migrate into food. Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

There are regulations in place to cover plastic products, materials and additives that come into contact with food.

How food contact plastics are regulated

The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations set an overall migration limit for all food contact plastics. The regulations establish:

• 'positive lists' of monomers and starting substances permitted in food contact plastics manufacturing
• a list of plastic and production aids for use in food contact plastics
• any time and migration limits on using them

Approving monomers and additives

The European Commission approves monomers and plastics additives. Producers make applications to add monomers or additives to the approved lists to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which may be placed onto the market in the EU and Northern Ireland

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Read EFSA guidance on approving monomers and additives.

Food additives in food contact plastics

You can use permitted food additives in the manufacture of food contact plastics. This applies so long as they don't affect the food or exceed legal limits for both plastic and food additives.

If you are a manufacturer, it is your responsibility to make sure that the packaging you use is safe for its intended purpose. There will be specific tests to check that it is suitable for this use. The test will also check that your packaging meets legal limits when consumers use it as intended.

Food packaging is often designed to be used just once with one type of food. It might not be safe to use with other foods or for a different purpose. If consumers use food packaging in other ways than those the manufacturer intended, more chemicals could transfer from it into the food than otherwise expected.

Points to consider when re-using packaging

There are some points to bear in mind if you're thinking about re-using food containers or wrappings. It's important to:

• Be careful about re-using packaging with a different type of food to the one it contained when you bought it. For example, if you re-use water bottles to hold fruit juice the acidity may cause more chemicals to move into the drink.
• Remember that chemicals are less likely to transfer between packaging and food at lower temperatures. If you're planning to freeze puréed food in food grade plastic trays, make sure you let the food cool before you fill the trays.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on plastic containers.
• Only microwave food in containers or tubs that are clearly labelled "microwave safe".
• Only put containers you want to use with food into a dishwasher if they're clearly labelled "dishwasher safe".
• Never re-use empty cans or tins to cook or store food.

'Food contact material' refers to packaging that comes into contact with food. Other examples of food contact material include:

• cookware/ceramic ware
• cutlery /crockery
• work surfaces
• food processing equipment and machinery

What are food contact materials?

The European Food Safety Authority has produced this video to explain what food contact materials are:

How is food contact material regulated?

European Regulation 1935/2004 governs food contact materials. This regulation lays down chemical safety requirements for food contact materials. The law protects:

• human health
• the nature, substance and quality of the food in the packaging

The regulation covers all food contact material. It states specific controls on some particular groups of food contact materials, including:

• 'active' food contact materials - these release a substance into the food to extend its shelf-life, or to maintain or improve its condition
• 'intelligent' food contact materials - these monitor and react to the condition of the food
• plastics and plastics recycling processes for food contact use
• ceramics
• regenerated cellulose film (RCF)

There are also specific rules for:

• the substances known as BADGE , BFDGE and NOGE
• all plastics, adhesives and coatings
• the use of vinyl chloride monomer in food contact plastics

How the FSA protects consumers

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works to protect the public from chemicals that could transfer into food from food contact materials.

The FSA manages research and surveys, designed to:

• identify which substances might migrate from various materials
• develop or improve methods for detecting chemicals that may transfer into food

Read the FSA's guidance on food contact materials.

Sticky labels are often used on fruit and vegetables. They usually give details of what type of product it is and where it comes from. Adhesives are also widely used with other food contact materials.

How is the adhesive in food packaging regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations require that adhesives used in food packaging must not:

• affect the food
• make the food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

Monitoring the safety of adhesives

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissions research and surveys on chemicals that might transfer to food.

The industry must ensure the chemicals they use comply with the law. They must carry out whatever research that may entail.

Adhesives are part of a variety of food packaging materials. For example, they are used to:

• manufacture rigid packs from cartonboard (box closures)
• seal flexible packaging - including wrappers, pouches and lidding
• attach labels
• laminate (bind together) layers of food contact materials

Chemical substances in adhesives

Several chemical substances are present in adhesives. When used in food packaging, these substances could transfer or migrate into food. The FSA has funded work to check for chemical migration from selected adhesive systems.

Although the research detected several substances in the adhesives, it only found low (parts per billion) levels of migration into foods. When only a small area of adhesive is used and it is not intended to touch the food directly, the risk of migration is low.

Aluminium is found in some foods for several reasons. It might be in a food because:

• it occurs naturally 
• it migrates to food from aluminium cooking utensils and packaging

Which foods contain most aluminium?

Some plants have high levels of aluminium, including:

• tea
• some herbs
• some leafy vegetables

Are the levels of aluminium in food safe?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly measures the amount of aluminium in our diet. They have found that levels of aluminium consumed in food are well within the World Health Organisation's safety guidelines.

How is aluminium from food contact materials regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations set out the general safety requirements for metals and alloys.

Materials such as aluminium must be manufactured in a way that prevents them affecting the food or making it harmful. They must not change the nature, substance or quality of the food.

Safely using foil and aluminium cookware

Studies have shown that cooking foods in aluminium containers increased the aluminium content in the food, but only by a very small amount. However, it is best not to use aluminium products with very acidic foods such as rhubarb as it can give a taint to such foods. 

Bisphenol-A or BPA, is a chemical used to make plastics. This includes materials that come into contact with food such as refillable drinks bottles and food storage containers.

BPA is also contained within the resins used to coat the insides of some food cans. This coating allows producers to heat canned food to kill off bacteria without the metal in the can contaminating the food contents.

Endocrine disrupters

BPA is one of a large number of substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems. These substances are called 'endocrine disrupters'.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. Research is still going on to establish whether BPA has this effect in humans. Results so far show the body metabolises it and removes it as waste.

Rules for using BPA in food packaging

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules.

By law, materials that contain BPA must not:

• make food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

BPA may be used in food contact materials, so long as no more than 0.05 milligrams per kilogram migrates into the food. Specific rules forbid migration of BPA from varnishes and coatings intended to be in contact with:

• infant formula
• baby foods
• products intended for young children

For more information, read the Food Standard's Agency (FSA) guidance on BPA in plastic.

The FSA's Food Contact Materials Team can also provide more information about the safety of BPA used in the food industry. You can contact them by email at foodcontactmaterial@gov.uk.

It is safe to use cling film as long you use it correctly. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced advice for consumers on using cling film safely. It has also made recommendations to manufacturers on labelling their products to help consumers use them properly.

Guidance on using cling film safely

Not every type of cling film is suitable for all uses. To protect the quality and taste of food it is important not to:

• use cling film where it could melt into the food - eg in conventional ovens or with pots and pans on cooker hobs
• allow cling film to touch the food when re-heating or cooking it in a microwave oven
• use cling film in contact with high fat foods unless the manufacturer's advice says it is suitable for this

High fat foods include:

• some types of cheese
• raw meats with a layer of fat
• fried meats
• pastry products
• cakes with butter icing or chocolate coatings

How plastic food contact materials are regulated

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Phthalates belong to a group of chemicals called 'phthalic acid diesters'. These are found in many household items and in some food packaging. It is especially common in packaging that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Facts about phthalates in food

Phthalates take a long time to break down in the environment, so they are sometimes found at low levels in some foods.

Research has shown that phthalates can affect the liver in animals. The level of phthalates that is consumed in food is not thought to be a risk for humans.

There has been some concern that phthalates may be harmful to humans because they are 'endocrine disrupters'. These are substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. However, there's no conclusive evidence that exposure to these chemicals has a harmful effect on humans.

Monitoring the potential toxic effects of phthalates in food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is aware of public concern about the effects of phthalates. It commissions chemical safety research and surveys of substances in food contact materials that might be harmful to human health.

Find FSA's chemical hazards in food and feed research.

Safe limits for phthalates in food

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets limits for the safe use of phthalates in food contact materials.

The EFSA reviews all the scientific evidence to set a 'tolerable daily intake' (TDI). This is the amount of phthalates in food or drinking water that people can safely consume without harm.

The European Commission has set a legal limit for the amount of phthalates that can migrate into food. Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

There are regulations in place to cover plastic products, materials and additives that come into contact with food.

How food contact plastics are regulated

The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations set an overall migration limit for all food contact plastics. The regulations establish:

• 'positive lists' of monomers and starting substances permitted in food contact plastics manufacturing
• a list of plastic and production aids for use in food contact plastics
• any time and migration limits on using them

Approving monomers and additives

The European Commission approves monomers and plastics additives. Producers make applications to add monomers or additives to the approved lists to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which may be placed onto the market in the EU and Northern Ireland

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Read EFSA guidance on approving monomers and additives.

Food additives in food contact plastics

You can use permitted food additives in the manufacture of food contact plastics. This applies so long as they don't affect the food or exceed legal limits for both plastic and food additives.

If you are a manufacturer, it is your responsibility to make sure that the packaging you use is safe for its intended purpose. There will be specific tests to check that it is suitable for this use. The test will also check that your packaging meets legal limits when consumers use it as intended.

Food packaging is often designed to be used just once with one type of food. It might not be safe to use with other foods or for a different purpose. If consumers use food packaging in other ways than those the manufacturer intended, more chemicals could transfer from it into the food than otherwise expected.

Points to consider when re-using packaging

There are some points to bear in mind if you're thinking about re-using food containers or wrappings. It's important to:

• Be careful about re-using packaging with a different type of food to the one it contained when you bought it. For example, if you re-use water bottles to hold fruit juice the acidity may cause more chemicals to move into the drink.
• Remember that chemicals are less likely to transfer between packaging and food at lower temperatures. If you're planning to freeze puréed food in food grade plastic trays, make sure you let the food cool before you fill the trays.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on plastic containers.
• Only microwave food in containers or tubs that are clearly labelled "microwave safe".
• Only put containers you want to use with food into a dishwasher if they're clearly labelled "dishwasher safe".
• Never re-use empty cans or tins to cook or store food.

'Food contact material' refers to packaging that comes into contact with food. Other examples of food contact material include:

• cookware/ceramic ware
• cutlery /crockery
• work surfaces
• food processing equipment and machinery

What are food contact materials?

The European Food Safety Authority has produced this video to explain what food contact materials are:

How is food contact material regulated?

European Regulation 1935/2004 governs food contact materials. This regulation lays down chemical safety requirements for food contact materials. The law protects:

• human health
• the nature, substance and quality of the food in the packaging

The regulation covers all food contact material. It states specific controls on some particular groups of food contact materials, including:

• 'active' food contact materials - these release a substance into the food to extend its shelf-life, or to maintain or improve its condition
• 'intelligent' food contact materials - these monitor and react to the condition of the food
• plastics and plastics recycling processes for food contact use
• ceramics
• regenerated cellulose film (RCF)

There are also specific rules for:

• the substances known as BADGE , BFDGE and NOGE
• all plastics, adhesives and coatings
• the use of vinyl chloride monomer in food contact plastics

How the FSA protects consumers

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works to protect the public from chemicals that could transfer into food from food contact materials.

The FSA manages research and surveys, designed to:

• identify which substances might migrate from various materials
• develop or improve methods for detecting chemicals that may transfer into food

Read the FSA's guidance on food contact materials.

Sticky labels are often used on fruit and vegetables. They usually give details of what type of product it is and where it comes from. Adhesives are also widely used with other food contact materials.

How is the adhesive in food packaging regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations require that adhesives used in food packaging must not:

• affect the food
• make the food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

Monitoring the safety of adhesives

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissions research and surveys on chemicals that might transfer to food.

The industry must ensure the chemicals they use comply with the law. They must carry out whatever research that may entail.

Adhesives are part of a variety of food packaging materials. For example, they are used to:

• manufacture rigid packs from cartonboard (box closures)
• seal flexible packaging - including wrappers, pouches and lidding
• attach labels
• laminate (bind together) layers of food contact materials

Chemical substances in adhesives

Several chemical substances are present in adhesives. When used in food packaging, these substances could transfer or migrate into food. The FSA has funded work to check for chemical migration from selected adhesive systems.

Although the research detected several substances in the adhesives, it only found low (parts per billion) levels of migration into foods. When only a small area of adhesive is used and it is not intended to touch the food directly, the risk of migration is low.

Aluminium is found in some foods for several reasons. It might be in a food because:

• it occurs naturally 
• it migrates to food from aluminium cooking utensils and packaging

Which foods contain most aluminium?

Some plants have high levels of aluminium, including:

• tea
• some herbs
• some leafy vegetables

Are the levels of aluminium in food safe?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly measures the amount of aluminium in our diet. They have found that levels of aluminium consumed in food are well within the World Health Organisation's safety guidelines.

How is aluminium from food contact materials regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations set out the general safety requirements for metals and alloys.

Materials such as aluminium must be manufactured in a way that prevents them affecting the food or making it harmful. They must not change the nature, substance or quality of the food.

Safely using foil and aluminium cookware

Studies have shown that cooking foods in aluminium containers increased the aluminium content in the food, but only by a very small amount. However, it is best not to use aluminium products with very acidic foods such as rhubarb as it can give a taint to such foods. 

Bisphenol-A or BPA, is a chemical used to make plastics. This includes materials that come into contact with food such as refillable drinks bottles and food storage containers.

BPA is also contained within the resins used to coat the insides of some food cans. This coating allows producers to heat canned food to kill off bacteria without the metal in the can contaminating the food contents.

Endocrine disrupters

BPA is one of a large number of substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems. These substances are called 'endocrine disrupters'.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. Research is still going on to establish whether BPA has this effect in humans. Results so far show the body metabolises it and removes it as waste.

Rules for using BPA in food packaging

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules.

By law, materials that contain BPA must not:

• make food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

BPA may be used in food contact materials, so long as no more than 0.05 milligrams per kilogram migrates into the food. Specific rules forbid migration of BPA from varnishes and coatings intended to be in contact with:

• infant formula
• baby foods
• products intended for young children

For more information, read the Food Standard's Agency (FSA) guidance on BPA in plastic.

The FSA's Food Contact Materials Team can also provide more information about the safety of BPA used in the food industry. You can contact them by email at foodcontactmaterial@gov.uk.

It is safe to use cling film as long you use it correctly. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced advice for consumers on using cling film safely. It has also made recommendations to manufacturers on labelling their products to help consumers use them properly.

Guidance on using cling film safely

Not every type of cling film is suitable for all uses. To protect the quality and taste of food it is important not to:

• use cling film where it could melt into the food - eg in conventional ovens or with pots and pans on cooker hobs
• allow cling film to touch the food when re-heating or cooking it in a microwave oven
• use cling film in contact with high fat foods unless the manufacturer's advice says it is suitable for this

High fat foods include:

• some types of cheese
• raw meats with a layer of fat
• fried meats
• pastry products
• cakes with butter icing or chocolate coatings

How plastic food contact materials are regulated

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Phthalates belong to a group of chemicals called 'phthalic acid diesters'. These are found in many household items and in some food packaging. It is especially common in packaging that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Facts about phthalates in food

Phthalates take a long time to break down in the environment, so they are sometimes found at low levels in some foods.

Research has shown that phthalates can affect the liver in animals. The level of phthalates that is consumed in food is not thought to be a risk for humans.

There has been some concern that phthalates may be harmful to humans because they are 'endocrine disrupters'. These are substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. However, there's no conclusive evidence that exposure to these chemicals has a harmful effect on humans.

Monitoring the potential toxic effects of phthalates in food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is aware of public concern about the effects of phthalates. It commissions chemical safety research and surveys of substances in food contact materials that might be harmful to human health.

Find FSA's chemical hazards in food and feed research.

Safe limits for phthalates in food

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets limits for the safe use of phthalates in food contact materials.

The EFSA reviews all the scientific evidence to set a 'tolerable daily intake' (TDI). This is the amount of phthalates in food or drinking water that people can safely consume without harm.

The European Commission has set a legal limit for the amount of phthalates that can migrate into food. Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

There are regulations in place to cover plastic products, materials and additives that come into contact with food.

How food contact plastics are regulated

The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations set an overall migration limit for all food contact plastics. The regulations establish:

• 'positive lists' of monomers and starting substances permitted in food contact plastics manufacturing
• a list of plastic and production aids for use in food contact plastics
• any time and migration limits on using them

Approving monomers and additives

The European Commission approves monomers and plastics additives. Producers make applications to add monomers or additives to the approved lists to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which may be placed onto the market in the EU and Northern Ireland

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Read EFSA guidance on approving monomers and additives.

Food additives in food contact plastics

You can use permitted food additives in the manufacture of food contact plastics. This applies so long as they don't affect the food or exceed legal limits for both plastic and food additives.

If you are a manufacturer, it is your responsibility to make sure that the packaging you use is safe for its intended purpose. There will be specific tests to check that it is suitable for this use. The test will also check that your packaging meets legal limits when consumers use it as intended.

Food packaging is often designed to be used just once with one type of food. It might not be safe to use with other foods or for a different purpose. If consumers use food packaging in other ways than those the manufacturer intended, more chemicals could transfer from it into the food than otherwise expected.

Points to consider when re-using packaging

There are some points to bear in mind if you're thinking about re-using food containers or wrappings. It's important to:

• Be careful about re-using packaging with a different type of food to the one it contained when you bought it. For example, if you re-use water bottles to hold fruit juice the acidity may cause more chemicals to move into the drink.
• Remember that chemicals are less likely to transfer between packaging and food at lower temperatures. If you're planning to freeze puréed food in food grade plastic trays, make sure you let the food cool before you fill the trays.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on plastic containers.
• Only microwave food in containers or tubs that are clearly labelled "microwave safe".
• Only put containers you want to use with food into a dishwasher if they're clearly labelled "dishwasher safe".
• Never re-use empty cans or tins to cook or store food.

'Food contact material' refers to packaging that comes into contact with food. Other examples of food contact material include:

• cookware/ceramic ware
• cutlery /crockery
• work surfaces
• food processing equipment and machinery

What are food contact materials?

The European Food Safety Authority has produced this video to explain what food contact materials are:

How is food contact material regulated?

European Regulation 1935/2004 governs food contact materials. This regulation lays down chemical safety requirements for food contact materials. The law protects:

• human health
• the nature, substance and quality of the food in the packaging

The regulation covers all food contact material. It states specific controls on some particular groups of food contact materials, including:

• 'active' food contact materials - these release a substance into the food to extend its shelf-life, or to maintain or improve its condition
• 'intelligent' food contact materials - these monitor and react to the condition of the food
• plastics and plastics recycling processes for food contact use
• ceramics
• regenerated cellulose film (RCF)

There are also specific rules for:

• the substances known as BADGE , BFDGE and NOGE
• all plastics, adhesives and coatings
• the use of vinyl chloride monomer in food contact plastics

How the FSA protects consumers

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works to protect the public from chemicals that could transfer into food from food contact materials.

The FSA manages research and surveys, designed to:

• identify which substances might migrate from various materials
• develop or improve methods for detecting chemicals that may transfer into food

Read the FSA's guidance on food contact materials.

Sticky labels are often used on fruit and vegetables. They usually give details of what type of product it is and where it comes from. Adhesives are also widely used with other food contact materials.

How is the adhesive in food packaging regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations require that adhesives used in food packaging must not:

• affect the food
• make the food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

Monitoring the safety of adhesives

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissions research and surveys on chemicals that might transfer to food.

The industry must ensure the chemicals they use comply with the law. They must carry out whatever research that may entail.

Adhesives are part of a variety of food packaging materials. For example, they are used to:

• manufacture rigid packs from cartonboard (box closures)
• seal flexible packaging - including wrappers, pouches and lidding
• attach labels
• laminate (bind together) layers of food contact materials

Chemical substances in adhesives

Several chemical substances are present in adhesives. When used in food packaging, these substances could transfer or migrate into food. The FSA has funded work to check for chemical migration from selected adhesive systems.

Although the research detected several substances in the adhesives, it only found low (parts per billion) levels of migration into foods. When only a small area of adhesive is used and it is not intended to touch the food directly, the risk of migration is low.

Aluminium is found in some foods for several reasons. It might be in a food because:

• it occurs naturally 
• it migrates to food from aluminium cooking utensils and packaging

Which foods contain most aluminium?

Some plants have high levels of aluminium, including:

• tea
• some herbs
• some leafy vegetables

Are the levels of aluminium in food safe?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) regularly measures the amount of aluminium in our diet. They have found that levels of aluminium consumed in food are well within the World Health Organisation's safety guidelines.

How is aluminium from food contact materials regulated?

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules. The regulations set out the general safety requirements for metals and alloys.

Materials such as aluminium must be manufactured in a way that prevents them affecting the food or making it harmful. They must not change the nature, substance or quality of the food.

Safely using foil and aluminium cookware

Studies have shown that cooking foods in aluminium containers increased the aluminium content in the food, but only by a very small amount. However, it is best not to use aluminium products with very acidic foods such as rhubarb as it can give a taint to such foods. 

Bisphenol-A or BPA, is a chemical used to make plastics. This includes materials that come into contact with food such as refillable drinks bottles and food storage containers.

BPA is also contained within the resins used to coat the insides of some food cans. This coating allows producers to heat canned food to kill off bacteria without the metal in the can contaminating the food contents.

Endocrine disrupters

BPA is one of a large number of substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems. These substances are called 'endocrine disrupters'.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. Research is still going on to establish whether BPA has this effect in humans. Results so far show the body metabolises it and removes it as waste.

Rules for using BPA in food packaging

Materials and articles that come into contact with food must follow strict rules.

By law, materials that contain BPA must not:

• make food harmful
• change the nature, substance or quality of the food

BPA may be used in food contact materials, so long as no more than 0.05 milligrams per kilogram migrates into the food. Specific rules forbid migration of BPA from varnishes and coatings intended to be in contact with:

• infant formula
• baby foods
• products intended for young children

For more information, read the Food Standard's Agency (FSA) guidance on BPA in plastic.

The FSA's Food Contact Materials Team can also provide more information about the safety of BPA used in the food industry. You can contact them by email at foodcontactmaterial@gov.uk.

It is safe to use cling film as long you use it correctly. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced advice for consumers on using cling film safely. It has also made recommendations to manufacturers on labelling their products to help consumers use them properly.

Guidance on using cling film safely

Not every type of cling film is suitable for all uses. To protect the quality and taste of food it is important not to:

• use cling film where it could melt into the food - eg in conventional ovens or with pots and pans on cooker hobs
• allow cling film to touch the food when re-heating or cooking it in a microwave oven
• use cling film in contact with high fat foods unless the manufacturer's advice says it is suitable for this

High fat foods include:

• some types of cheese
• raw meats with a layer of fat
• fried meats
• pastry products
• cakes with butter icing or chocolate coatings

How plastic food contact materials are regulated

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Phthalates belong to a group of chemicals called 'phthalic acid diesters'. These are found in many household items and in some food packaging. It is especially common in packaging that contains polyvinyl chloride (PVC).

Facts about phthalates in food

Phthalates take a long time to break down in the environment, so they are sometimes found at low levels in some foods.

Research has shown that phthalates can affect the liver in animals. The level of phthalates that is consumed in food is not thought to be a risk for humans.

There has been some concern that phthalates may be harmful to humans because they are 'endocrine disrupters'. These are substances that may be able to interact with human hormone systems.

There is evidence that some wildlife species are affected by endocrine disrupters. However, there's no conclusive evidence that exposure to these chemicals has a harmful effect on humans.

Monitoring the potential toxic effects of phthalates in food

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is aware of public concern about the effects of phthalates. It commissions chemical safety research and surveys of substances in food contact materials that might be harmful to human health.

Find FSA's chemical hazards in food and feed research.

Safe limits for phthalates in food

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) sets limits for the safe use of phthalates in food contact materials.

The EFSA reviews all the scientific evidence to set a 'tolerable daily intake' (TDI). This is the amount of phthalates in food or drinking water that people can safely consume without harm.

The European Commission has set a legal limit for the amount of phthalates that can migrate into food. Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

There are regulations in place to cover plastic products, materials and additives that come into contact with food.

How food contact plastics are regulated

The Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations set an overall migration limit for all food contact plastics. The regulations establish:

• 'positive lists' of monomers and starting substances permitted in food contact plastics manufacturing
• a list of plastic and production aids for use in food contact plastics
• any time and migration limits on using them

Approving monomers and additives

The European Commission approves monomers and plastics additives. Producers make applications to add monomers or additives to the approved lists to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) which may be placed onto the market in the EU and Northern Ireland

Under current operating arrangements for Northern Ireland, businesses seeking a new authorisation for placing these materials on the NI market will continue to follow EU food rules. From Autumn 2023, the Windsor Framework will allow GB public health standards to apply for pre-packed retail goods moved via a new NI retail movement scheme and placed on the NI market. Therefore, goods moving via this route containing GB authorised materials will be able to be placed on the NI market.

Read EFSA guidance on approving monomers and additives.

Food additives in food contact plastics

You can use permitted food additives in the manufacture of food contact plastics. This applies so long as they don't affect the food or exceed legal limits for both plastic and food additives.

If you are a manufacturer, it is your responsibility to make sure that the packaging you use is safe for its intended purpose. There will be specific tests to check that it is suitable for this use. The test will also check that your packaging meets legal limits when consumers use it as intended.

Food packaging is often designed to be used just once with one type of food. It might not be safe to use with other foods or for a different purpose. If consumers use food packaging in other ways than those the manufacturer intended, more chemicals could transfer from it into the food than otherwise expected.

Points to consider when re-using packaging

There are some points to bear in mind if you're thinking about re-using food containers or wrappings. It's important to:

• Be careful about re-using packaging with a different type of food to the one it contained when you bought it. For example, if you re-use water bottles to hold fruit juice the acidity may cause more chemicals to move into the drink.
• Remember that chemicals are less likely to transfer between packaging and food at lower temperatures. If you're planning to freeze puréed food in food grade plastic trays, make sure you let the food cool before you fill the trays.
• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions on plastic containers.
• Only microwave food in containers or tubs that are clearly labelled "microwave safe".
• Only put containers you want to use with food into a dishwasher if they're clearly labelled "dishwasher safe".
• Never re-use empty cans or tins to cook or store food.