EFSA Safety Assessment: Bandera Twin Recycled PET Process Suitable for up to 100% Use in Food-contact Materials

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the Bandera Twin recycling process (EU register number RECYC341).

The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications.

The flakes are extruded at high temperature and vacuum (step 2). Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that this recycling process ensures that the levels of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food are below the conservatively modelled migration and that therefore the recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when used at up to

1. 9% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hot-fill;
2. 30% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with milk, other liquid milk-based products, non-alcoholic beverages (other than drinking water) and solid foods specifically intended for infants and toddlers, for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hot-fill); and
3. 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs other than drinking water, milk, liquid milk-based products and non-alcoholic beverages, and solid foods specifically intended for infants and toddlers, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot-fill.

Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

About CIRS 

Established in 2007, the CIRS Group is a leading product safety and regulatory consulting firm. CIRS has branch offices in the Republic of Ireland, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan and China. CIRS Group utilizes its technical expertise, various resources, and international network to provide one-stop compliance services from regulatory compliance, laboratory testing, R&D to data services across multiple industries. This includes chemicals, cosmetics, food and food beverages, medical devices, agrochemical products, disinfectants, and consumer goods. It helps clients gain a competitive advantage by reducing business risks associated with regulatory affairs.

The vast majority of members in CIRS Food Business Division have over 10 years of professional experience in food compliance, with more than 80% holding Master’s or Doctoral degrees in food-related disciplines. The CIRS toxicology expert team consists 24 Chinese Certified Toxicologists (DCST), 2 American Board Certified Toxicologists (DABT), and 2 European Registered Toxicologists (ERT). CIRS has provided one-stop food compliance services to over 1,000 domestic and international food and related enterprises. Leveraging its technical expertise, diverse resources, and global network, the CIRS Food Business Division offers global food compliance services, including but not limited to:

• Health food registration and filing in China;
• Application for “Three New Foods (new food additives, new food raw materials and new food-related products” in China;
• U.S. GRAS, NDI, and CAP notifications;
• EU Novel Food, food additives, and food enzymes applications; and
• Application for new feed ingredients and feed additives in China, the U.S., and the EU.

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