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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 411/2

11 September 2012

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 735/2012

Argentina : Maximum Limit for Certain Inorganic Contaminants in Food Products and Migration Requirements for Plastic Containers with Food Contact

The Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, issued a MERCOSUR Resolution No. 12/2011 in June 2011 to establish the maximum limits for certain inorganic contaminants in food products. The Argentine government issued a Joint Resolution No. 116/2012 and 356/2012 to incorporate the MERCOSUR Resolution No. 12/2011 into its national legislation. 

2. The MERCOSUR Resolution No. 12/2011 set out the maximum limits for certain inorganic contaminants, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury and tin in food products. The Joint Resolution took effect on 24 July 2012 and companies in Argentina will be required to comply with the requirements by 20 January 2013.
 

3. The Argentina government also issued a Joint Resolution No. 117/2012 and 357/2012 on 25 July 2012 to incorporate the MERCOSUR Resolution No. 32/2010 of June 2010 into its national legislation. The MERCOSUR Resolution No. 32/2010 established the technical regulation on the migration of plastic materials intended for contact with food.
 

4. The MERCOSUR Resolution No. 32/2010 set out the general criteria to determine total and specific migration levels for containers made wholly or partly of plastic, provided that at least the layer in contact with food is made of plastic. The technical requirements also include provisions regarding migration test procedures, classification of food, food simulants to be used in migration test, and methodology to determine total and specific migration levels. The Joint Resolution took effect on 25 July 2012 and companies in Argentina will be required to comply with the requirements in 90 working days after the publication of the Joint Resolution.
 

5. For details, traders are advised to consult their importers in Argentina and/or the above Argentine Joint Resolutions (in Spanish) available at:

  • Joint Resolution No.116/2012 and 356/2012:
    http://www.revistarap.com.ar/Derecho/regulacion_servicios_publicos/
    salud_publica/1pub0041100070000.html 
  • Joint Resolution No.117/2012 and 357/2012:
    http://www.revistarap.com.ar/Derecho/regulacion_servicios_publicos/
    salud_publica/1PUB0041100071000.html.

ENQUIRIES

6. For enquiries about the content of this circular, please contact Miss S Y TANG at telephone number 2398 5405.

Yours faithfully,




(Ms Cindy CHENG)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry





Note : While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the above information, the Department cannot guarantee this to be so and will not be held liable for any reliance placed on the same.