In MERCOSUR (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay), the use food plastics packages manufactured with PCR-PET is regulated since 2007, in order to avoid sanitary and sensorial problems.Due to the sorption of substances from foodstuffs or other products (e.g. pesticides) into plastics materials, there is a ban on the reuse of plastics packages for food applications. The exemptions to this rule are regulated by MERCOSUR Resolutions (refillable PET bottles and multilayer and monolayer PCR-PET bottles).In the last case, Resolution GMC 30/07 establishes requirements for the PCR-PET manufacturer, for the recycler and for the food producer. The PET decontamination technology must be subjected to a standardized challenge test and requires a non-objection letter (NOL) from the US-FDA or a European Decission on its use, to be accepted by the sanitary authorities. The US-FDA threshold of regulation (TOR) is accepted, and GMPs and traceability are required.The regulatory situation in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru will be also briefly commented.

Recycling PCR-PET regulatory situation in South America

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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