Take action to call for strong laws on food contact materials

The European Commission has an important role in EU chemicals policy. It drafts most of the chemical regulations, although these regulations must be supported by EU governments and, in many cases, the European Parliament.

The European Commission has published the public consultation on the revision of the Food Contact Materials legislation, including surveys for stakeholders and citizens. The deadline for comments is 11th January 2023.

We encourage all interested organisations and individuals to respond and call for legislation that properly protects EU citizens, wildlife, and our environment from harmful chemicals in food contact materials.

The Commission has committed to propose a revision of the laws for food packaging. The Commissioner in charge of Health and Food Safety is Stella Kyriakides. You can email her asking for new strong laws to prevent harmful chemicals being used in food contact materials. Her email address is cab-kyriakides-contact@ec.europa.eu

An idea for an email is below. Personalising this email will make it more powerful.

Dear Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides,

Chemicals, including chemicals that disrupt the body’s sensitive hormone system, are not automatically banned from materials that come into contact with food.  Recent studies have found harmful chemicals in food packaging available across the EU, including PFAS ‘the forever chemicals’. Some of these chemicals can migrate into the food and drink that people consume.

On a daily basis EU citizens are unwittingly exposing themselves (and their families) to these chemicals. Although individuals can take some small actions to reduce their own exposure, many people do not have sufficient information to do this, and the best way to protect the health of people is through authorities taking responsibility to prevent the use of these chemicals in the first place.

The Commission has committed to revising the current legislation, and should bring forward new, strong regulation to ensure citizens are protected from harmful chemicals in food contact materials.

Please do let me know how my concerns will be addressed, and how long it will be before EU citizens can trust that food packaging is safer.

Yours sincerely

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