MERCOSUR Updates Regulations on Plastics in Contact with Food

The Common Market Group (GMC) of MERCOSUR has approved Resolution No. 28/24, which modifies Resolution No. 02/12, updating the Technical Regulation on the Positive List of Monomers, Other Starting Substances, and Polymers Authorized for the Manufacture of Plastic Packaging and Equipment in Contact with Food.

The resolution introduces two new substances to the existing list:

1. Diglycidyl Ether of Tetramethyl Bisphenol F (TMBPF-DGE) (CAS No. 113693-69-9) – This substance, used in water-based macromolecular dispersions for beverage can coatings, is subject to migration limits of:

   • 0.2 mg/kg (sum of TMBPF, TMBPF-DGE, TMBPF-DGE.H2O, and TMBPF-DGE.2H2O)
   • 0.05 mg/kg (sum of TMBPF-DGE.HCl, TMBPF-DGE.2HCl, and TMBPF-DGE.HCl.H2O)

2. Polyamide-Imide 2 (PAI-2) – This polymer, produced from 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane and benzoic chloride-3,4-anhydride dicarboxylate, is authorized for use only as a binder in high-temperature-resistant cookware coatings. The regulation limits the coating thickness to 60 μm and temperature use up to 230°C or short-term exposure up to 250°C for 15 minutes.

The updated regulation will be enforced across MERCOSUR member states and will apply to intra-regional trade and extra-zone imports. Member states must incorporate the resolution into their national legal frameworks by June 2, 2025.

The implementation of these updates will be overseen by the Working Subgroup No. 3 on Technical Regulations and Conformity Assessment (SGT No. 3), with national regulatory bodies responsible for enforcement.

This regulatory adjustment reflects MERCOSUR’s commitment to ensuring food safety and harmonizing industry standards across the region. For further details, you can find the Resolution (in Spanish) here.