WRITTEN QUESTION E-2777/00 by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Migration of uncured isocynates from laminating adhesives into food.
Date: 2000-09-01
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: carcinogenic substance, consumer protection, food safety, food standard, packaging product, plastics, product safety

8.5.2001

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 136 E/93

Answer given by Mr Solbes Mira on behalf of the Commission

(10 November 2000)

The printing of euro banknotes involves several processes with the use of different machines, i.e. for the
production of water-marked paper, the printing of the design, the printing of the relief design and for the
application of other security features. This complex production process is a safeguard against illicit printing
of euro banknotes by unauthorised people using a machine for a particular step in the process.

(2001/C 136 E/106)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2777/00

by Avril Doyle (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 September 2000)

Subject: Migration of uncured isocynates from laminating adhesives into food

Bearing in mind that the Internet Consumer Alert reports that, in Belgium, more than 40 % of isocyanate-
based laminating adhesives used in food packaging are not fully cured at the time of wrapping, that the
Internet Consumer Alert reports that uncured laminates can migrate into wrapped foods, that it is
suspected that this phenomenon can cause severe allergic reactions and that it is suspected that the
uncured isocyanates can combine with moisture in the packaged foods to form carcinogenic aromatic
amines, would the Commission comment on the situation and outline its strategy to address the potential
dangers to public health posed by isocyanate migration?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(18 October 2000)

Laminates are composed of various layers of plastics linked together by adhesives, often prepared with
isocyanate compounds. The isocyanates, when released into foodstuffs or food simulants, can cause the
formation of primary aromatic amines. Commission Directive 90/128/EEC of 23 February 1990, relating
to plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (1) establishes that the
plastics cannot contain more than 1 milligram per kilogram (mg/kg) of isocyanates. No rule exists yet at
Community level as regards primary aromatic amines. In Germany, a recommendation establishes that the
release of these amines should not exceed the quantity of 0,2 micrograms/100 millilitre (ml) of test liquid.

Following the Internet consumer alert report, the Commission has been informed that the industries
mentioned in the report have carried out a series of tests on laminates to check compliance of the release
of aromatic amines with the German recommendation. The results of these tests were negative. Moreover
the official central Belgian laboratory was charged by the Belgian authorities to check compliance of these
laminates not only with the German recommendation for the release of aromatic amines but also with
Directive 90/128/EEC for isocyanate content in the finished laminates. The Commission has asked the
Belgian authorities for a copy of the results as soon they are available.

The Commission is considering the possibility of
introducing into the above-mentioned Directive a
provision stipulating that primary aromatic amines should not be detectable in foodstuffs or in food
simulants.

In order to avoid that uncured laminates contain quantities of isocyanates exceeding the legal limit and to
avoid the formation of detectable aromatic amines, a certain delay has to be respected between
manufacture and use of laminates. At the request of the Belgian authorities, the European association
representing the food industries again informed its members on the need to respect such delays as
recommended by the manufacturers of laminates.

(1) OJ L 75, 21.3.1990, rectified by OJ L 349, 13.12.1990.