Scientific Opinion on the safety assessment of the process "MKF-Ergis", used to recycle post-consumer PET into food contact materials

This scientific opinion of the EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids deals with the safety assessment of the recycling process MKF-Ergis, EU register number RECYC021. The input for the process (step 1) is washed and dried PET flakes originating from collected post-consumer PET bottles containing no more than 1 % of PET from non-food consumer applications. The washed and dried flakes are crystallised (step 2) and then extruded at high temperature under vacuum into films (step 3). Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the two steps, the crystallisation (step 2) and the extrusion (step 3) are the critical steps that determine the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control their performance are well defined and are temperature, gas flow and residence time for the crystallisation and temperature, vacuum and residence time for the extrusion. The operating parameters of these steps in the process are at least as severe as those used in the challenge test. Under these conditions, it was demonstrated that the recycling process 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. Therefore the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process intended for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill is not considered of safety concern. Trays made of this recycled PET should not be used in microwave and conventional ovens.