M/291 - Materials in contact with food

Purpose

The mandate M/291 pertains to the standardisation activities related to materials and articles that are intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. It focuses on providing supplementary guidance and requirements for methods of analysis relevant to these materials to ensure safety, compliance, and harmonisation within the European Union.

Standardisation request

This mandate is a supplement to a previous standardisation mandate addressed to the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). It requests CEN to develop and/or update methods of analysis for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The objective is to standardize analytical techniques enabling consistent testing, verification, and control of such materials to protect consumer health and facilitate trade.

Expected deliverables

• Harmonised standards defining test methods for materials in contact with food.
• Specifications and protocols for analytical procedures to assess compliance with food safety requirements.
• Documentation and guidelines ensuring the reproducibility and reliability of the analysis.
• Support for conformity assessment and regulatory enforcement activities related to food contact materials.

Context

This mandate is part of the EU's broader regulatory framework ensuring the safety of materials used with food products. Food contact materials are subject to specific legislation requiring that they do not release harmful substances. Standardised methods of testing are essential to verify compliance. The supplement to the original M/291 mandate addresses advancements or gaps in analytical methods and fosters collaboration between regulatory bodies and standardisation organisations. The resolution reference CEN/BT C80/2000 indicates formal approval or consideration is linked to the CEN Board during the year 2000.