The Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has reportedly announced that it may consider banning fluorinated chemicals in FCMs. According to sources familiar with the knowledge of the matter, the administrative body is in the midst of examining the possibilities of enforcing a nation-wide ban on the deployment of all organic fluorine compounds used in paper and cardboard food packaging.
Apparently, the proposed plan of action for the ban comes on the heels of the recent risk assessment undertaken by the European Food Safety Authority’s (Efsa) on PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid). The regulatory authority, back in December, arrived at the conclusion that humans can endure far less of these two chemicals than previously presumed, before the risk of adverse effects.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Environment and Food, these compounds are infamous for being highly degradable, with some of them even accumulating in humans and animals. The release also stated that several fluorinated compounds may plausibly be carcinogens and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), that are potentially disastrous for the immune system.
Justifying his stand on the ban enforcement, Jakob Ellemann-Jensen, Environment and Food minister, was reported quoted stating that the concern he has for organic fluorinated substances has not reduced post Efsa’s assessment. There may exist other fluorinated substances that are way more harmful than thought of, prompting the urgency of a ban, Ellemann-Jensen affirms.
In the event that the discussions prove fruitful, Denmark may, in all probability, become the first nation across the globe to mandate a ban on the entire group of organic fluorinated compounds used in cardboard & paper FCMs, claim sources with the knowledge of the matter.
For the record, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration has long since been in favor of not using organic fluorinated compounds in FCMs.
