Unit Safety of Food-Contact Materials

Substances can be transferred from materials and articles used in contact with food (e.g. packaging, tableware or kitchen utensils) to food. The unit assesses the health risk of these substance transfers and publishes the results in the form of statements and publications. Chemical/analytical and toxicological data serve as the basis for the risk assessment. The unit also carries out health assessments of printing ink components that can be transferred to foodstuffs. Within the scope of its activities, the unit supports the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Public Control Authorities of the German federal states in their work.

The unit is responsible for the management of the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Committee for Consumer Products and its sub-committees.

Employees of the unit represent the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in national and international expert bodies such as DIN and CEN working groups, the working groups of the GDCh and the ALS for consumer products, the expert body of the Federal Environment Agency (UBAshort forGerman Environment Agency) on "plastics and other non-metallic materials in contact with drinking water" and expert groups of the EU Commission and the Council of Europe. They contribute to the work of the EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority "Food Contact Materials" working group of the Panel on "Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids" (CEP) as well as of various ECHAshort forEuropean Chemicals Agency expert groups.