PRESENTATION
The Council of Europe, via EDQM (European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare), published the second edition of the technical guide on metals and alloys used in food contact materials in August 2024. This document aims to enhance the safety of materials used in food packaging and equipment, while incorporating the latest research.
This second edition of the guide, which replaces the first edition dating from 2013, and complements the Resolution CM/Res(2020)9, introduces Specific Release Limits (SRLs) for 16 metals as well as stainless steel and other alloys. This new guide presents modified safety data regarding Specific Release Limits (SRLs) for chromium (increasing from 0.25 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg), manganese (from 1,8 mg/kg to 0.55 mg/kg), thallium (from 0.0001 mg/kg to 0.001 mg/kg) and a new section on zirconium with an SRL of 2 mg/kg and general recommendations for release testing. Updated methods for the measurement of certain items facilitate the calculation of specific release for control laboratories. In addition, a reduction factor of 5, to test results involving silver or silver-plated cutlery, is also introduced.
The guide is free to download from the Conseille de l'Europe website.