materials in contact with food

Argentina – ANMAT updates the Argentine Food Code on cellulosic materials in contact with food

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The National Administration of Medicines, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT in Spanish) thru Joint Resolution No 9/2026, incorporated the Argentine Food Code into GMC Resolution No. 26/22 of MERCOSUR, which modifies the Technical Regulation on Cellulosic Materials, Containers, and Equipment Intended to be in Contact with Food.

Among the main modifications:

Point 2.15.1 of Part I of Article 186 bis of the Argentine Food Code is replaced, establishing that the pigments and colorants used in cellulosic materials intended for contact with food must not migrate, in accordance with the procedure established in the BS EN 646 standard – Paper and board intended to come into contact with foodstuffs – Determination of color fastness of dyed paper and board. Likewise, they must comply with grade 5 of the gray scale provided in said standard.

The Joint Resolution also establishes a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, counted from its publication in the Official Gazette of the Argentine Republic, for companies to adapt their products and processes to the new technical requirements.

With this measure, Argentina continues to strengthen the update of its regulatory framework regarding materials in contact with food, aligning it with regional technical standards and promoting higher levels of safety and commercial integration.

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Brazil – New technical regulation on materials in contact with food

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The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA in Portuguese) has published Resolution RDC No. 854/2024 on Provides requirements for sanitary conditions applicable to packaging, coatings, utensils, lids and metal equipment intended to come into contact with food.
This Technical Regulation applies to packaging, coatings, utensils, utensils, lids and equipment made of metal materials, coated or uncoated, that come into contact with food and its raw materials during production, preparation, transport, distribution and storage. Printing inks, varnishes on tableware and enamels used on the external surface shall not be subject to the provisions of these regulations, provided that they do not come into direct contact with food, nor with the user’s mouth in the form of habitual use.

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