Keeping Europe's food safe, thanks to new EU lab
The European Commission has inaugurated its new Community Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials at its Joint Research Centre (JRC) institute in Ispra, Italy. Our food comes into contact with a range of materials as it is prepared, processed, packaged, stored and served. The processing equipment, kitchen appliances, cutlery, crockery and storage materials can be made from a range of substances including plastics, paper, glass, ceramics, metals and wood. We rely on food packaging materials in particular to protect our food and keep it fresh until we are ready to eat it. However, consumers need to be sure that ingredients in food contact materials, such as packaging, will not be transferred into the food, and this is where the new lab comes in. The CRL for Food Contact Materials was set up to ensure the harmonised enforcement across Europe of EU legislation on food contact materials by providing support to the National Reference Laboratories (NRLs). The JRC was selected for the job as it has been working in the food contact materials field for over 10 years. During that time the JRC has established a database detailing the chemical and physical properties of more than 400 substances used in food contact materials, as well as 350 methods for their analysis. JRC research into the substances used to coat food cans led to a change in the law when it revealed that the release of materials into food was too high. Work on recycled materials fed into a set of guidelines for the safe recycling of materials. Advanced analytical techniques are needed to research and control the potential transfer of substances from the packaging to the food inside. The new lab will continue to develop these techniques and reference materials to help the NRLs investigate the safety and efficacy of food contact materials. It will also offer training courses for staff from the NRLs and provide a platform for discussion amongst all stakeholders. 'I am delighted that this new Community Reference Laboratory is being officially opened today,' said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. 'The work that these scientists are doing has a real impact on our lives, helping to avoid ill-health associated with unsafe food.'