Report of the Scientific Committee of the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on the risks associated with the use of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) as food contact material for fresh or refrigerated fruits and vegetables that are not peeled or cut

*This record is given in both English and Spanish

Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 establishes the legal bases with regard to materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. This regulation provides for the adoption of specific measures or regulations for 17 groups of materials. Nevertheless, as of now, only plastics, regenerated cellulose, active and intelligent materials and ceramics are specifically subject to regulation.

Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is a material that consists of wood, adhesive and water, for which there are no specific rules. Therefore, the Scientific Committee has been tasked with assessing a methodological proposal for verifying that MDF boards comply with article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004.

This article establishes that the materials and articles shall be manufactured in compliance with good manufacturing practice so that, under normal or foreseeable conditions of use, they do not transfer their constituents to food in quantities which could: a) endanger human health; b) bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the food; or c) bring about a deterioration in the organoleptic characteristics thereof.

In the view of the Scientific Committee, the proposed analytical strategy that consists of identifying the possible compounds that may migrate into foods and conducting specific tests, is correct and constitutes a good starting point for assessing compliance with the requirements established in article 3 of Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 for MDF boards as single-use packaging for fresh or refrigerated fruits and vegetables that are not peeled or cut.

Additionally, it makes a series of recommendations with regard to the woods and adhesives used, and the strategy for selecting the substances detected in the stage of raw material screening for monitoring their migration into foods.

The Scientific Committee recommends drawing up a sector-based Guide that outlines a detailed Protocol to be followed in order to demonstrate that these requirements are fulfilled in the process of manufacturing food contact articles from MDF boards, including the considerations made by the Committee.

In any case, the use of MDF boards as a food contact material must be limited to a single use, without being re-used for the same purpose by both industries and consumers.