Over a number of years the European Commission has been in the process of developing a legislative framework concerning the use of polymeric materials in contact with foodstuffs. A number of directives have been issued and implemented into the national laws of member states, and hence it is essential that any supplier or processor of polymeric materials for food contact applications should be aware of their content and implications.

The so-called Plastics Directive was issued in 1990, detailing for the first time restrictions on levels of overall migration, and the migration of specific monomers from plastics materials in contact with food, and at this time the first edition of The Rapra Guide to EC Directives and Proposals on Food Contact Polymers was published. A second edition followed in 1993.

Three more years have now passed, and whilst the framework is still not complete a number of new directives have been issued, and therefore it is appropriate to update the guide once more.

The guide contains a review of the current position, together with copies of the relevant directives.