Check on Food Packaging Materials     

Seven government agencies led by the Ministry of Health of China carried out a joint action at the end of November 2009 to check food packaging materials to ensure food safety and the healthy development of the sector.
   This is part of effort to implement the "Food Safety Law" which regulates the operations and use of food packaging materials like additives, monomers, resins and coatings, among others.
   Food packaging material manufacturers are required to review manufacturing and use of the products based on existing standards and rules. For those materials have yet to be involved to China's food packaging material list, companies must report and register such substances.
   The Ministry of Health, along with other relevant departments, has set up a panel of experts to conduct scientific assessment of the materials submitted, which will be classified as "Can be used" or "Banned" as substances for food packaging after evaluation. The results will be made public in batches. Meanwhile, the authorities will revise and improve the safety standards regarding food containers, packing materials and the additives used in a timely manner.
   All relevant departments should further improve the administration and supervision mechanism, and help guide companies to establish their own management systems, for the sake of the healthy development of the food industry as well as consumer's health.