Document ZB32XovNxbX0GJwBR9nz5gx70

m Bl ne weszvassso. sane PERUERCOIPOUESAGNOCOAMLMTIOSRSTIEORNA MARKET BORSTRY ENTRERENGARSHD Tn Brussels a Environment Alliance Ce) scos Subject: CiCmhveeeimtliiscnoagclisetPy FfAiSndwinigdsesopfrewaiddeisnpfroeoaddpapcrkeasgeincneg aonfdhraerqmufeuslt for a er "sToTchiiaenmtkyeyfoalui,nfgorsaayodofuCwroimdmmeesispssrsaeigaoedneoprfrse2sKeyJnrcuienaoekfi2dP0e2sE,1ASSaidn(dkPreeervs-isceaudns,topBorlEeyxtfelocunuotrricevagelakrVydilicnsegu-bPtsrhteeasniccdieevsni)tl in foodcontactarticles.Theyhaveaskedustoreplyontheirbehalf.Letusalsothank youforsuggesting ameeting topresentthe findings. Commissioners'teamsmaycome `back to you on this. On14October2020 theCommission adoptedthe ChemicalsStrategyfor Sustainability (CSS) towards a toxic-free Environment'. PFAS, explicitly mentioned in the CSS, require special attention, considering the large numberofcases of contaminationofsoil and wate. including drinking water, in the EU. The Commission has proposed a `comprehensive set of actiotnos addresstheuse ofandcontamination withPFAS. These `actionsaimto ensureinparticular that the uos fPFe ASisphased outinthe EU, unless it esNissoeprnrtwoiavayelanuresesepsrseneotpifaarlPiFfnoAgrwSsioctliheatatyp.oatgOernnoteiuaiplmoepotfrrftyoaniutnrtacoMteEimoUnbceihseramiSRcaEtaeAlssCH(l'eDgEir,selDsatKtrii.octniNionLn.o3n0S2Ea5l,)l naTohnnid-s restrictionintendstocoveralsofoodcontactmaterials (FCMs)andtheresultsofyour study will be considered. COM (2020) 667 fina, 14.10.2020 SWD (2020)249 final, 14.10.2020 OJ L396, 30.12.200p6.,1 CoI &=m&mins Cenc 0bt BELCIQULBBLGE 7 + Food safety is of paramount importance for the Commission. Present EU legislation requires that FCMs, including food packaging, must not transfer their constituents to food in amounts that can endanger human health. Nevertheless, following its evaluation of the FCM legislation, the Commission is aware that the absence of specific EU rules, particularly for certain materials such as coatings and paper and board, has led to legal uncertainty and challenges for Member States, who are responsible for enforcement. Therefore, and as announced in the Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission has committed to a major revision of the FCM legislation in order to provide long-term solutions. One of the objectives of the revision is to prohibit the most harmful substances including PFAS, in line with the CSS and to ensure coherence with the REACH legislation. In this respect, the Commission will take any further action necessary to protect consumers in addition to proposed REACH restriction. The Commission also asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess the risk of the occurrence of PFAS in food. As this has now resulted in a new recommended tolerable weekly intake4, the Commission has committed to taking action to introduce maximum levels for PFAS in food, which is also outlined in the CSS. Although the EFSA opinion did not identify FCM as a major source of exposure, the Commission will continue to monitor the situation, including following up its 2019 Recommendation5 to Member States to monitor several substances in FCM, including PFAS. Yours sincerely, (e-sign) Kristin Schreiber DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (e-sign) Kestutis Sadauskas DG Environment 4 https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/news/pfas-food-efsa-assesses-risks-and-sets-tolerable-intake 5 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/794 of 15 May 2019 on a coordinated control plan with a view to establishing the prevalence of certain substances migrating from materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, OJ L 129, 17.5.2019 2