According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), with the help of feedback received from two previous public consultations, EFSA scientists have reassessed the priority of plasticizer substances in food contact materials (FCMs) and established a consumer exposure assessment procedure According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), with the help of feedback received from two previous public consultations, the EFSA scientists have prioritized the reassessment of plasticizer substances in food contact materials (FCMs) and established a consumer exposure assessment process. The second step is about to be a full risk assessment.

The European Commission asked EFSA to undertake preparatory work to reassess the health risks of phthalates, structural analogues and alternative substances that may be used as plasticizers in materials and products in contact with food.

EFSA is conducting a scientific assessment focusing on plasticizers used in different types of FCMs (e.g., plastics, rubber, inks) in the food chain (e.g., food processing and packaging).

For the identification and prioritization process, EFSA drew on a combination of information provided by the European Commission, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), and EU member states. Two public consultations provided information to help further clarify the rationale for including these substances in the prioritization process.

Only substances that are authorized at the EU or at the Member State level for use in food contact materials were prioritized. Based on the most recent risk assessment of these substances as food contact material substances, they were divided into three groups: "high priority" for those assessed before 2001; "medium priority" for those assessed between 2001 and 2011; "low priority" for those assessed in 2011; and "high priority" for those assessed in 2011. Those assessed between 2001 and 2011 are "low priority.

EFSA will be calling for data on priority substances in food and food contact materials by this summer to help fine-tune the priorities and complete the exposure assessment in the risk assessment.

The scientific protocol for exposure assessment of priority substances for assessment transparently and in detail describes in advance the methods that EFSA scientists intend to use for retrieval and screening and for integration and analysis of data for exposure assessment (including diet, overall exposure, and exposure to food contact materials).

EFSA is working closely with ECHA on this comprehensive assessment to promote the implementation of the EC Strategy for Sustainable Development of Chemicals.