Kaneka’s Biodegradable Polymer listed in the Plastic Implement Measure of the European Commission

Kaneka Biodegradable Polymer PHBH (PHBH) produced by Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Mamoru Kadokura) is included in the positive list*¹ of the “EU Regulation on food contact materials and articles” of the European Commission*² for dry food*³ application. This approval will be effective starting from February 8, 2019. This allows PHBH to be used for dry food application across the entire EU. Kaneka is working hard to expand sales of dry food-packaging materials used for cereals, fresh pasta and many more food types, in addition to the fruit and vegetable bags in the super markets.

 

Kaneka is in the middle of obtaining approval of PHBH to be used for all food types. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA*⁴) completed the safety assessment on January 25, and issued a positive report. Followed by the review by Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG-SANTE) *⁵ , and the legislative procedures in the European Parliament*⁶ and the Council of European Union*⁷, PHBH is expected to be approved for use towards all food types in EU by autumn this year. Kaneka aims to extends its use in all food contact applications, such as straws, cups and cutlery*⁸.

 

*1:	A list of chemical compounds that are authorized to be used as the food contact materials that is provided in Annex 1 of Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (Plastic Implement Measure). PHBH is included as FCM No.1059.
*2:	It is an institution of the European Union (EU), responsible for management of the EU including proposal of the legislation and implementation of decisions.
*3:	Dried food such as dried or dehydrated fruits and vegetables and processed food thereof,  cereal, ground or cracked grain (meal), dried and fresh pasta and  powdered milk.
*4:	It is an agency of the European Union established as an independent organization  from the European Commission. It assesses risk for food and feed and provides  the European Commission with the scientific advice on safety.
*5:	It is an agency of the European Union that is responsible for provision of the scientific advice on health, environment and emerging risks, proposal of  the legislation and implementation of decisions.
*6:	It is the directly erected legislative body of the European Union, which constitutes the bicameral system together with the Council of the EU.
*7:	It is the legislative body that is made up of the leaders of the EU member states and defines the general political directions.
	(Reference: The legislative procedure is launched when the European Commission submits a legislative proposal to the Council and the European Parliament. After consultation with  the European Parliament and decision of the EU Council, the proposal is adopted.)
*8:	A collective term for knives, forks and spoons.