Date of issue: 6 July 2020
Date of effect: 1 July 2020
Reference Number: MAA2020-10
Attention:
- Industries—Industry bodies - Seafood Export Consultative Committee
- Export establishments
- Licensed exporters
- Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment —Central and Regional offices
Purpose
This Market Access Advice provides information on Denmark’s ban on the use of per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in the manufacture of paper and cardboard as food contact materials from 1 July 2020. The ban is not limited to seafood commodities.
Summary of key points
Denmark has notified its trading partners (through WTO notification G/SPS/N/DNK/4) that it would be placing a market ban on food contact materials made of paper or cardboard if PFAS have been used in the manufacture of the material (including those derived from recycled paper and cardboard or from printing inks). Packaging containing PFAS may not be used to package food unless the packaging materials are separated from the food by a functional barrier which prevents the migration of fluorinated substances to the food.
The ban came into effect from 1 July 2020.
Processors may be asked by importers to demonstrate that materials in contact with foods such as fish and fish products, do not contain any PFAS or if used, that there is use of an additional functional barrier to ensure no migration to food can occur.
While Denmark is currently the only EU member state to take action on use of PFAS in food contact materials, it is noted that individual member states and the EU as a whole are considering risks associated with human exposures to PFAS and similar proposals may be considered at a later date in other jurisdictions.
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (MICoR) will be updated to reflect this market access advice.
The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment encourages all exporters to work with their importer to ensure that product meets the current importing country requirements.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@awe.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.