Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process Starlinger viscotec deCON (EU register number RECYC339). The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are preheated batchwise before being submitted to solid state polycondensation (SSP) in batch or semi‐continuous reactor(s), at high temperature under vacuum and gas flow. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the preheating (step 2) and the decontamination in the SSP reactor (step 3) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, residence time, pressure and gas flow rate. It was demonstrated that this process ensures that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.0481 or 0.0962 μg/kg food (depending on the molar mass of the contaminant substance) derived from the exposure scenario for infants when such recycled PET is used at up to 55% together with virgin PET, and of 0.156 or 0.312 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for toddlers, when used at up to 100%. The Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 55% in mixture with virgin PET for manufacturing materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, and at up to 100% for contact with all types of foodstuffs except drinking water, and used for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot‐fill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the Bandera Twin recycling process (EU register number RECYC341). The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are extruded at high temperature and vacuum (step 2). Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the operating parameters to control the performance of the critical step 2 are temperature, pressure and ■■■■■. It was demonstrated that this recycling process ensures that the levels of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food are below the conservatively modelled migration and that therefore the recycled PET obtained from the process is not of safety concern when used at up to (i) 9% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hot‐fill; (ii) 30% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with milk, other liquid milk‐based products, non‐alcoholic beverages (other than drinking water) and solid foods specifically intended for infants and toddlers, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hot‐fill); and (iii) 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs other than drinking water, milk, liquid milk‐based products and non‐alcoholic beverages, and solid foods specifically intended for infants and toddlers, for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot‐fill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process KREYENBORG IR Clean+ (universal) (EU register number RECYC329). The input is hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a continuous infrared (IR) dryer (step 2) before being processed in a finisher reactor (step 3). Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that both steps are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the efficiency of these critical steps are temperature, air/PET ratio and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process ensures that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.0481 or 0.0962 μg/kg food, depending on the molar mass of a contaminant substance. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot-fill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process brtCOMBIPET (EU register number RECYC338). The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are dried (step 6), melted in an extruder (step 7) and pelletised, dried and crystallised (step 8). The pellets are then preheated, further crystallised, then decontaminated in a solid‐state polymerisation (SSP) reactor (step 9) and cooled down. Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that the extrusion, the preheating and the SSP are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are the temperature and the pressure for step 7 (extrusion) as well as the temperature, residence time and gas flow rate for step 9 (preheating and SSP). It was demonstrated that this recycling process ensures that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.0481 or 0.0962 μg/kg food, depending on the molar mass of the contaminant substance. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot‐fill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process EREMA Vacurema Basic_Sheet (EU register number RECYC 337). The input is washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with below 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a continuous flake reactor (step 2) under vacuum before being extruded. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the step 2 is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the efficiency are the temperature, the pressure (vacuum) and the residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process ensures that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.156 or 0.312 μg/kg food, depending on the molar mass of the contaminant substance. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with foodstuffs, excluding drinking water, reconstituted infant formula and human milk, and used for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot‐fill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials (FCM) assessed the safety of the recycling process EREMA VACUNITE (EREMA Vacurema Basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐LeaN) (EU register number RECYC332). The input is hot caustic/surfactant‐washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are first decontaminated in a ■■■■■ flake reactor under ■■■■■ (step 2), then extruded, pelletised and ■■■■■ (step 3). The ■■■■■ pellets are ■■■■■ (step 4) and submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a ■■■■■ reactor at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ and ■■■■■ (step 5). Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that steps 2 and 5 are critical for determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of steps 2 and 5 are temperature, pressure and residence time as well as ■■■■■ for step 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process ensures that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.0481 or 0.0962 μg/kg food, depending on the molar mass of a contaminant substance. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot‐fill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

In the context of entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2022/1616, EFSA updated the scientific guidance to assist applicants in the preparation of applications for the authorisation or for the modification of an existing authorisation of a 'post-consumer mechanical PET' recycling process (as defined in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2022/1616) intended to be used for manufacturing materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. This Guidance describes the evaluation criteria and the scientific evaluation approach that EFSA will apply to assess the decontamination capability of recycling processes, as well as the information required to be included in an application dossier. The principle of the scientific evaluation approach is to apply the decontamination efficiency of a recycling process, obtained from a challenge test with surrogate contaminants, to a reference contamination level for post-consumer PET, set at 3 mg/kg PET for a contaminant resulting from possible misuse. The resulting residual concentration of each surrogate in recycled PET is then compared to a modelled concentration in PET that is calculated using generally recognised conservative migration models, such that the related migration does not give rise to a dietary exposure exceeding 0.0025 mu g/kg body weight (bw) per day. This is the lowest threshold for toxicological concern (TTC) value, i.e. for potential genotoxicity, below which the risk to human health would be negligible. The information to be provided in the applications relates to: the recycling process (i.e. collection and pre-processing of the input, decontamination process, post-processing and intended use); the determination of the decontamination efficiency by the challenge test; the self-evaluation of the recycling process. On the basis of the submitted data, EFSA will assess the safety of the mechanical PET recycling process.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Fucine Film (EU register number RECYC322), which uses the Reifenhäuser technology. The input material consists of hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are extruded under vacuum into sheets. The recycled sheets are intended to be used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, excluded drinking water and beverages, for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. Based on the limited data available, the Panel concluded that the information submitted to EFSA was inadequate to demonstrate that the recycling process Fucine Film is able to reduce potential unknown contamination of the input PET flakes to a concentration that does not pose a risk to human health.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Steinbeis PolyVert (EU register number RECYC270), which uses the EREMA Basic technology. The input material is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are ■■■■■ before being extruded. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the reactor of step 2, for which a challenge test was provided, is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of this step are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 and 0.15 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for infants and toddlers when such recycled PET is used at up to 100%. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Lietpak (EU register number RECYC327), which uses the EREMA MPR technology. The input material is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a ■■■■■ reactor under vacuum. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the ■■■■■ decontamination (step 2), for which a challenge test was provided, is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of this step are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food, derived from the exposure scenario for infants, when such recycled PET is used at up to 100%. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Battenfeld-Cincinnati Germany (EU register number RECYC303), which uses the Battenfeld technology. The input consists of washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are heated and pre-decontaminated in an ■■■■■, then further decontaminated by extrusion to sheets ■■■■■. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the ■■■■■ drying (step 2) and extrusion (step 3) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature and residence time for step 2, temperature, throughput and pressure for step 3. The Panel concluded that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.15 μg/kg food, exposure scenario for toddlers, under the following conditions of use of the recycled PET: (a) 45% in mixtures with virgin PET to produce trays for storage of fruits and vegetables up to 30 days at room temperature or below, (b) 100% to produce cups for storage of soft drinks and beers up to 1 day at room temperature or below, (c) 100% to produce trays for meat storage up to 30 days at 6°C. Hotfill is not included. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET produced by this process is not of safety concern when used under the evaluated conditions. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Veolia Huafei Polymer Technology (Zhejiang) (EU register numberRECYC292), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology. The input consists of hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes, mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are pre‐decontaminated in the ■■■■■ at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ (step 2) before being extruded, pelletised and ■■■■■ (step 3). The ■■■■■ pellets are then ■■■■■ (step 4) and submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) (step 5) at ■■■■■ and under ■■■■■ and ■■■■■. Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that step 2 as well as steps 4 and 5 are critical for determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, pressure and residence time for steps 2, 4 and 5 as well as the ■■■■■ for steps 4 and 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Poly Recycling (EU register number RECYC262), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology. The input is ■■■■■ and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are pre‐decontaminated in a first ■■■■■ reactor at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ before being extruded and pelletised. The pellets are crystallised, preheated and then submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in a continuous reactor at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ and ■■■■■. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the ■■■■■ reactor (step 2), preheater (step 4) and the SSP reactor (step 5) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, pressure and residence time for steps 2, 4 and 5 as well as gas velocity for steps 4 and 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Guangxi Wuzhou Guolong Recyclable (EU register number RECYC310), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA basic and Polymetrix SSP V-leaN) technology. The input consists of hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes, mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are pre-decontaminated in the ■■■■■ at ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ (step 2) before being extruded, pelletised and crystallised (step 3). The ■■■■■ pellets are then ■■■■■ (step 4) and submitted to solid-state polycondensation (SSP) (step 5) at high temperature under ■■■■■ and ■■■■■. Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that step 2 as well as steps 4 and 5 are critical for determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, pressure and residence time for steps 2, 4 and 5 as well as the ■■■■■ for steps 4 and 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Silver Plastics (EU register number RECYC299), which uses the Reifenhauser technology. The input material consists of hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, including no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are extruded under vacuum into sheets. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the decontamination in the extruder under vacuum degassing (step 2), for which a challenge test was provided, is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, pressure and throughput. The Panel concluded that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of exposure to potential unknown contaminants from food below 0.0025 & mu;g/kg bw per day, when such recycled PET is used from 15% to 100% in mixtures with virgin PET, depending on the specific intended application. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern when used from 15% to 100% in mixtures with virgin PET for the manufacture of materials and articles depending on the specific intended application. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Steinbeis PolyVert (EU register number RECYC280), which uses the VACUNITE (EREMA Basic and Polymetrix SSP V‐leaN) technology. The input consists of hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes, mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are pre‐decontaminated in a first ■■■■■ ■■■■■ at high ■■■■■ under vacuum before being extruded, pelletised and crystallised. The pellets are then ■■■■■ and submitted to solid‐state polycondensation (SSP) in two parallel ■■■■■ reactor lines at high ■■■■■ under ■■■■■ and ■■■■■. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that step 2 (■■■■■ reactor) and steps 4 and 5 (■■■■■ and SSP) are critical for determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance are temperature, pressure and residence time for steps 2, 4 and 5 as well as the gas velocity for steps 4 and 5. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. Articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Plastrec (EU register number RECYC288), which uses the Polymetrix technology. The input material consists of hot washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, e.g. bottles, including no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are extruded to pellets, crystallised and subsequently decontaminated in a solid-state polycondensation (SSP) reactor under high temperature and gas flow. Having examined the challenge tests provided, the Panel concluded that the fourth step, the decontamination in the SSP reactor, is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of this critical step are temperature, gas velocity and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure a level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not considered to be of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave or conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

Abstract The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process ISKO (EU register number RECYC287), which uses the Gneuss 4 technology. The input consists of washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post‐consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non‐food consumer applications. The flakes are melted in an extruder (step 2), decontaminated during a melt‐state polycondensation step ■■■■■ and vacuum (step 3) and finally pelletised. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the melt‐state polycondensation (step 3) is critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of the critical step are the pressure, the temperature, the residence time and the characteristics of the reactor. It was demonstrated by the challenge test that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 μg/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, for long‐term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process HIROYUKI INDUSTRIES (EU register number RECYC198), which uses the Starlinger iV+ technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are dried and crystallised in a first reactor, then extruded into pellets. These pellets are crystallised, preheated and treated in a solid-state polycondensation (SSP) reactor. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that the drying and crystallisation (step 2), extrusion and crystallisation (step 3) and SSP (step 4) are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these critical steps are temperature, air flow and residence time for the drying and crystallisation step, and temperature, pressure and residence time for the extrusion and crystallisation step, as well as the SSP step. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 mu g/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern, when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation. (C) 2021 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by John Wiley and Sons Ltd on behalf of European Food Safety Authority.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) assessed the safety of the recycling process Ambiental de Plasticos Recyclapet (EU register number RECYC304), which uses the Vacurema Prime technology. The input is hot caustic washed and dried poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) flakes mainly originating from collected post-consumer PET containers, with no more than 5% PET from non-food consumer applications. The flakes are heated in a batch reactor (Step 2) under vacuum and then treated at higher temperature in a continuous reactor (Step 3) under vacuum before being extruded into pellets. Having examined the challenge test provided, the Panel concluded that Steps 2 and 3 are critical in determining the decontamination efficiency of the process. The operating parameters to control the performance of these steps are temperature, pressure and residence time. It was demonstrated that this recycling process is able to ensure that the level of migration of potential unknown contaminants into food is below the conservatively modelled migration of 0.1 mu g/kg food. Therefore, the Panel concluded that the recycled PET obtained from this process is not of safety concern when used at up to 100% for the manufacture of materials and articles for contact with all types of foodstuffs, including drinking water, soft drinks, juices, tea, milk, oil, alcoholic beverages and other food products, for long-term storage at room temperature or below, with or without hot fill. The final articles made of this recycled PET are not intended to be used in microwave and conventional ovens and such uses are not covered by this evaluation.