An internet compendium of analytical methods and spectroscopic informationfor monomers and additives used in food packaging plastics

An internet website (http://cpf.jrc.it/smt/) has been produced as a means o f dissemination of methods of analysis and supporting spectroscopic informa tion on monomers and additives used for food contact materials (principally packaging). The site which is aimed primarily at assisting food control la boratories in the European Union contains analytical information on monomer s, starting substances and additives used in the manufacture of plastics ma terials. A searchable index is provided giving PM and CAS numbers for each of 255 substances. For each substance a data sheet gives regulatory informa tion, chemical structures, physico-chemical information and background info rmation on the use of the substance in particular plastics, and the food pa ckaging applications. For monomers and starting substances (155 compounds) the infra-red and mass spectra are provided, and for additives (100 compoun ds); additionally proton NMR are available for about 50% of the entries. Wh ere analytical methods have been developed for determining these substances as residual amounts in plastics or as trace amounts in food simulants thes e methods are also on the website. All information is provided in portable document file (PDF) format which means that high quality copies can be read ily printed, using freely available Adobe Acrobat Reader software. The webs ite will in future be maintained and up-dated by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) as new substances are authorized for use by the European Commission (DG-ENTR formerly DGIII). Where analytical laboratorie s (food control or other) require reference substances these can be obtaine d free-of-charge from a reference collection housed at the JRC and maintain ed in conjunction with this website compendium.