Safety assessment of the process Alimpet, based on EREMA MPR B2B technology, used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials

Abstract

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP Panel) assessed the safety of the Alimpet recycling process (EU register number RECYC159), which is based on the EREMA Multi-Purpose Reactor (MPR) technology. The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, containing no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. They are treated in a continuous reactor under vacuum and high temperature. Having examined the results of the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the continuous reactor is the critical step that determines the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters controlling its performance are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that, depending on the operating conditions, the recycling process under evaluation is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below a conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for infants. Therefore, the Panel concluded that recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when used to manufacture articles intended for food contact applications if it is produced in compliance with the conditions specified in the conclusion of this opinion. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such use is not covered by this evaluation.