BfR
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Annual Report 2014
52
Fundamentally, consumer contact with these substances
should be limited as much as possible. The BfR recom-
mends the application of the so-called ALARA principle
due to their carcinogenic potential. This means that their
presence in materials that come into contact with food
should be as low as technically possible. On a European
level, a total limit value is currently defined in EU Regula-
tion 10/2011. This applies to migration from plastics and
stands at a maximum of 0.01 milligrammes (mg) of PAAs
per kilogramme (kg) of food.
Compliance with the limit value is monitored by the labo-
ratories of food control authorities. In order to verify their
efficiency, these laboratories must test their methods of
analysis on a regular basis. This serves as quality control
and takes place via inter-laboratory comparison studies
for proficiency testing. In order to determine the transfer
of PAAs from napkins, the National Reference Laboratory
for Food Contact Materials which is attached to BfR car-
ried out a proficiency test. Carrying out these proficiency
tests is one of the key tasks of reference laboratories.
19 different laboratories from four European countries
participated in the BfR's proficiency test.
Cold water extracts are used to simulate the levels at
which PAAs from napkins are transferred to food. As part
of the proficiency test, the laboratories prepared cold
water extracts from four different napkins in accordance
with the specifications of European Standard (EN) 645.
In each cold water extract, a predetermined PAAs was
to be identified. In addition, the laboratories received
two pre-made cold water extracts, with four PAAs to be
identified in each one. For the analysis of the cold water
extracts, the participants used the existing methodology
in their laboratories. The results of the proficiency test
show that the participating laboratories have a very good
command of the creation of cold water extracts and the
analysis of PAAs. Additionally, the laboratories were able
to determine values which were ten times lower than the
total limit value of 0.01 mg/kg.
These results support the BfR's position of introducing a
restriction, in addition to the aggregate detection limit, for
the individual primary aromatic amines that are classified
as carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic. This is orient-
ed towards values which are still analytically detectable.
Accordingly, the value for the transfer of these PAAs into
food or food simulant should be limited to 0.002 mg/kg.
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Paper napkins with colourful print can contain primary
aromatic amines. These potentially harmful substances
are transferred to foods when they are stored in napkins
over long periods.
Primary aromatic amines enter the printing ink on paper
napkins via certain colourants.
