China destroys plastic spoons imported from Japan

On 30 June 2016, Zhejiang Hangzhou Quarantine and Inspection Bureau (in China) has destroyed a batch of food contact materials imported from Japan. The products are kitchen polypropylene (PP) plastic spoons (480 boxes, 1,920 units).

During the inspection, officials found the products fail in the decolouration test as they contain hazardous hazard. According to requirements in Hygienic Standard for Polypropyrene Products Used as Food Containers and Tablewares, the products shall be destroyed on the field as they do not comply with relevant requirements.

Polypropylene is thermoplastic resin polymerized from propylene, which is a suitable material to be used in tablewares contact with food. Therefore the non-compliance of such products can adversely affect human bodies as consumers are in close contact with food.

There are differences in safety and hygiene standards on plastic food contact materials in China and Japan, which leads to a possibility that such products imported from Japan cannot meet Chinese standards. Competent official in Hangzhou Bureau shows that the quarantine and inspection department will continue to strengthen supervision and keep non-compliant products away from the domestic market. C&K Testing advises that businesses should, therefore, keep abreast of the information.

【中文版】

Further information
China Quality Press (in Chinese)