On February 28, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that grease-proofing substances containing Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) will no longer be sold in the U.S. market for food contact. This step is intended to protect public health by reducing food contact exposure to PFAS.
PFAS, known for their extensive application in everyday packaging materials such as fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out cardboard containers, and pet food bags. Following a market safety assessment by FDA in 2020, manufacturers have pledged to voluntarily cease the sale of PFAS products for food contact purposes in the U.S. market. This latest announcement by FDA ensures the thorough implementation of this commitment.
FDA has further indicated that, despite existing data suggesting that it may take up to 18 months for companies to deplete their current inventories, some firms have already begun withdrawing their products from the market ahead of schedule. In light of this, FDA is actively working on developing a validated analytical method aimed at enhancing the surveillance of food contact substances used in food packaging applications.
It shall be noted that all exporters to the US to promptly update their product information to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory standards.
