On April 12, 2021, the association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) prefabricated food working group (pfpwg) released two guidelines for the control system of food contact materials (FCMs) in ASEAN member countries, namely "ASEAN Framework guidelines for food contact materials" and "ASEAN guidelines for good manufacturing practices for food contact materials". The two documents will be used jointly by industry stakeholders to meet global standards and promote the development of responsible and sustainable investment ideas.

The ASEAN Framework guidelines for food contact materials is mainly for food packaging users. It outlines the use of safe food packaging, the traceability system to ensure FCM compliance with trade guidelines, and how to put FCM on the market in ASEAN member countries.

"ASEAN good manufacturing practice guidelines for food contact materials" defines terms related to FCM production, such as "good manufacturing practice". The quality assurance system, including examples of good manufacturing practices for plastic food contact materials, was summarized.

Pfpwg also intends to give priority to developing specific standards for 17 categories of food contact materials: reactive and smart materials and articles, adhesives, ceramics, corks, rubber, glass, ion exchange resins, metals and alloys, paper and paperboard, plastics, printing inks, recycled cellulose, silicone, textiles, varnishes and coatings, wax and wood.

"Food contact materials" (abbreviated as FCM) refers to the materials that products contact with food in normal use.

Food contact materials include:

• Plastics, resins

• Rubber, silica gel

• Metal, alloy

• Paper, paperboard

• Glass, ceramics, glaze

• Colorants, printing inks, etc

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