France Proposes Restrictions on Mineral Oils in Paper and Packaging Ink

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND / AGILITYPR.NEWS / March 08, 2022 / SGS, the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company, is reminding stakeholders that France has circulated a proposal to regulate two categories of mineral oil in ink for packaging and paper.

Circulated by the World Trade Organization (WTO) on February 3, 2022, the French Ministry for Ecological Transition has signaled its intention to regulate two categories of mineral oils. The draft decree makes several changes relating to Article 112 of Decree No. 2020-105 on the ‘Fight against waste and the circular economy’ in relation to mineral oils in packaging. These include:

• Date of entry into force is now January 1, 2023. The original date was January 1, 2022
• Mineral oils are defined as oils produced from feedstocks derived from petroleum hydrocarbons used in the manufacture of inks
• Defines mineral oils as mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) consisting of 1 to 7 aromatic cycles and mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) consisting of 16 to 35 carbon atoms
• Specifies requirements for MOAH and MOSH in ink:
• No more than 0.1% MOAH compounds consisting of 1 to 7 aromatic cycles (not greater than 1 ppb MOAH compounds consisting of 3 to 7 aromatic cycles from January 1, 2025)
• No more than 1% MOSH (not greater than 0.1% MOSH from January 1, 2025)

Article 112 of Decree No. 2020-105 also had the following dates for enforcement:

• January 1, 2023 – mineral oils prohibited in unsolicited advertising materials and catalogs for commercial promotions
• January 1, 2025 – mineral oils prohibited on printed material for the general public

The restriction on mineral oils results from their disruption to the recycling of packaging waste paper. Recycled materials containing these substances pose a threat to human health.

The draft decree contains two transitional periods:

• Packaging and printed matter of paper manufactured or imported before January 1, 2023, must be disposed of by December 31, 2023
• Compliant packaging and printed matter of paper manufactured or imported before each of the deadlines in the aforementioned point are required to be disposed of within 12 months of those deadlines

There is an intention to adopt the draft decree on June 30, 2022, with enforcement on January 1, 2023

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For further information contact:

Dr. HingWo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Pascale LAMBERT-DESMURS

Expert Global Contact Alimentaire et Chimie E&E

Tel: +33 6 85 93 63 00

Email: crs.media@sgs.com

Website: www.sgs.com/hardlines

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