Safety assessment of the process ISKO, based on Gneuss 4 technology, used to recycle post‐consumer PET into food contact materials
Meta data
Legal notice The full opinion is published in accordance with Article 10(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, and it implements EFSA's decision on confidentiality, in accordance with Article 20 of the said Regulation. Certain technical details have been awarded confidential status by EFSA and consequently withheld from public disclosure by redaction. This scientific output may be subject to editing once the confidentiality decision making on the additional information received is completed.
Abstract
The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process ISKO (EU register number RECYC287), which uses the Gneuss 4 technology. The input consists of washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are melted in an extruder (step 2), decontaminated during a melt‐state polycondensation step ■■■■■ and vacuum (step 3) and finally pelletised. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the melt‐state polycondensation (step 3) is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of the critical step are the pressure, the temperature, the residence time and the characteristics of the reactor. It was demonstrated by the challenge test that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.