Identification of the substances from the Carcinogenic Potency Database (CPDB) which are of particular concern even if ingested at doses below 0.0025 µg/kg body weight per day

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) was asked by the European Commission to supply information to supplement the EFSA 2015 opinion on high-density polyethylene (HDPE) recycling processes in a step-wise manner. The Terms of Reference required to supply a list of substances for which the most severe exposure threshold is applicable and to consider Table 1 column 1 in the 2004 study by Kroes et al. which lists categories of substances for which this threshold is not applicable. The CEF Panel concludes that it is not possible to provide an exhaustive list of substances ‘for which the most severe exposure threshold is applicable’ as such a list would have to be established based on all known substances, excepting a comparatively small number of substances excluded by the criteria in the approach taken. The CEF Panel has analysed the most recent Carcinogenic Potency Database consisting of 1,547 substances, and identified and listed those substances which are of particular concern even if ingested at, or below an intake level of 0.0025 µg/kg body weight per day, following the approach taken by the 2004 study by Kroes et al. The CEF Panel emphasises that this opinion does not impact the risk assessment approach taken in the opinion, adopted in February 2015, on processes producing recycled HDPE for use as a food contact material, or its conclusions.