New Requirements on Stainless Steel Food Utensils Pending in Italy

Italy has recently informed the European Commission of its intention to adopt a draft technical regulation on food contact stainless steels via the notification 98/34/EC procedure. The Commission and other Member States have a 3-month standstill period to examine the notified text.

Proposal Amends Food Contact Materials Decree

On April 22, 2015, the European Commission published Notification Number 2015/213/I, a proposal intended to be adopted by Italy, to amend the Health Ministry Decree of March 21, 1973 on food contact stainless steels.  The proposal is intended to replace Article 37 of the Health Ministry Decree of March 21, 1973, on food contact steels. It defines:

- Methods for overall migration.
- Methods for the specific migration of chromium, nickel and manganese.
- Conditions to be fulfilled for articles intended to come into prolonged contact at room temperature.
- Conditions for reusable articles that are intended for short periods with heat or at room temperature.
- Conditions for reusable cooking and dining cutting implements that are intended for short periods with heat or at room temperature.
- Conditions for reusable articles that are intended to be in contact with water for short periods with heat or at room temperature.
- Specific migration limits for chromium (III), nickel and manganese for articles in this proposal.

Highlights of the proposal are summarized in a table within the latest SGS Safeguards bulletin (http://newsletter.sgs.com/eNewsletterPro/uploadedimages/000006/sgs-safeguards-07015-italy-new-requirements-food-contact-stainless-a4-en-15.pdf).

References:

- Notification 98/34/EC (http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/tris/en/about-the-9834/the-notification-procedure-in-brief1/)
- Notification Number 2015/213/I (http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/tris/en/index.cfm/search/?trisaction=search.detail&year=2015&num=213&mLang=en&CFID=50673&CFTOKEN=8dbb311ef11f5cfc-4135F6E8-064B-9592-0788CDE9081A5FDC)

About SGS Consumer Products Safety

Throughout its global network of laboratories, SGS is able to provide a range of services, including analytical testing and consultancy, for restricted substances in food contact products (http://www.sgs.com/en/Consumer-Goods-Retail/Hardgoods/Home-Furnishings-and-Houseware/Testing/Food-Contact-Tests.aspx) for Italy and international markets.

Please do not hesitate to contact an SGS expert for further information.

Contact details:

SGS Consumer Testing Services
HingWo Tsang
Global Toys and Juvenile Products Information and Innovation Manager
SGS Hong Kong Limited
1/F On Wui Centre
25 Lok Yip Road
Fanling, N.T., Hong Kong, China

t: +852 2774 7420
Email: [email protected]   
Website: http://www.sgs.com/hardgoods

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 80,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,650 offices and laboratories around the world.