Meaning
Regulatory commission regulation defining the safety and quality requirements for recycled plastic materials intended to come into contact with foods. It governs the authorization of decontamination processes and stops applying to materials that are not recycled or are used in non-food applications.
Control Framework
Legally binding rules replace previous directives to establish a more rigorous oversight system for decontamination technologies. The eu 2022/1616 provides a structured path for mechanical recycling and chemical recycling facilities to demonstrate safety. This text governs the entire supply chain from waste collection to final part production.
It mandates that only authorized processes are used for food grade materials.
Decontamination Requirement
Specific cleaning efficiency must be proven through a challenge test before a recycler can sell material as food grade. Verification involves measuring the removal of various chemical surrogates during the extrusion or washing stages. The resulting data becomes part of the technical dossier submitted to the European Food Safety Authority.
This review ensures that the process can handle a defined level of input contamination.
Labelling Protocol
Clear documentation ensures that every batch of recyclate is traceable back to its origin and process type. Every container of food contact recycled plastic must carry a declaration of compliance. This transparency prevents the mixing of non-compliant materials into the food packaging stream.
