Run by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), it will consult on a new insertion into the draft text - which sets out a series of far reaching measures for the use of plastic to contain food products.

The move comes after the UK began discussions on the full document last October and closed them at the beginning of the year. Further consultation on the same addition began in England earlier this month.

The main changes proposed by the insertion relate to the transitional dates to comply with rules.

They are:

* lids containing a gasket which do not comply with the restrictions and specifications to be banned by 1 July 2008

* plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food which do not comply to be phased out by 1 July 2008

*prohibit the manufacture and importation into the EU of plastic materials and articles which do not comply with the rules by 1 May 2009.

Industry has until March 26 to submit their comments to FSA.

Law

EU directive 2007/19/EC lays down harmonised rules on food contact plastics. Other related annexes and rules list authorised monomers and other starting substances that can be used in packaging.

The proposed Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food Regulations 2008 will implement the EU directive.

The amendments include new substances. They also amend the entries for existing ones following risk assessments on the materials by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

In particular, Directive 2007/19/EC puts new limits on the use of specific plasticisers, including epoxydised soybean oil (ESBO) and some phthalates. The directive also sets new migration limits.

It also amends Council Directive 85/572/EEC by introducing a fat-reducing factor (FRF).

The directive also contains provisions for the use of plastic functional barriers to help in reducing the migration of a substance below its specific limit.

The ambiguity in the law surrounding what constitutes metal gaskets in lids has now also been clarified by this amending directive, the FSA reported.