Background

1. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) are currently undertaking work on the potential use of plastic materials from the open environment in food contact applications, specifically plastic materials intercepted before entering the marine environment. These plastic materials are widely referred to as ocean bound plastic (OBP) and are sourced, recycled and subsequently used in new applications. The FSA sought an opinion from the Joint Expert Group on Food Contact Materials (FCMJEG) whether such recycled material could be safely utilised in food packaging, either directly in contact with food or behind a functional barrier.

2. To aid the FCMJEG with their assessment of OBP and environmental plastic more generally, the FSA undertook a call for evidence between March and October 2022. This was followed by additional data kindly provided by the companies that responded to the call for evidence, upon enquiry by the FCMJEG. Additional companies were also identified as suppliers and users of these materials between November 2022 and January 2024 and were contacted for any information they may hold.  

3. The following evaluation of environmental plastic and OBP focusses on the potential risk from use of such materials in recycled FCMs, environmental aspects are outside the remit of this evaluation. The discussion, considerations and conclusions by the FCMJEG are based on all available information received to date, including any information and data submitted to the FSA by the end of January 2024.