Materials that come into contact with food are subject to European legislation.
In good manufacturing practice and under normal conditions, they must not release ingredients into the food in quantities that

• endanger human health,
• lead to an unacceptable change in the composition of the food or
• cause an adverse effect on the organoleptic properties of the food (e.g. taste or smell).

As a manufacturer of food contact materials, you are responsible for complying with the legal requirements. You must ensure that the contact materials are harmless to health.

What are active and intelligent substances in food contact?

Active materials absorb or release substances to improve the quality of packaged food or extend its shelf life.

Intelligent materials monitor the condition of packaged food or the environment surrounding it. For example, they provide information about the freshness of the food.

Applications for the authorization of active and intelligent substances in food contact can only be submitted via the European Commission's online portal E-Submission Food Chain Platform (ESFC).

The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) is the national point of contact in Germany. If you select the BVL as your contact point, the BVL will formally check the application for completeness and relevance of the documents. The BVL then forwards it to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The EFSA examines and evaluates your application on the basis of scientific findings. The European Commission decides on the actual approval. Even in the event of non-authorization, the European Commission will inform you and give reasons for its decision.

If the active and intelligent materials or articles meet the legal and scientific requirements, they are added to the corresponding EU list of authorized substances. They may then be used as food contact materials.

If you have new scientific or technical findings that may affect the assessment of the safety of the substance in relation to human health, you must inform the EU Commission immediately.