[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 3]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR177.1310]

[Page 242-243]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                          SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 177--INDIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES: POLYMERS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart B--Substances for Use as Basic Components of Single and Repeated 
                        Use Food Contact Surfaces
 
Sec. 177.1310  Ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers.

    The ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers identified in paragraph (a) of 
this section may be safely used as components of articles intended for 
use in contact with food subject to the provisions of this section.
    (a) The ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers consist of basic copolymers 
produced by the copolymerization of ethylene and acrylic acid such that 
the finished basic copolymers contain no more than:
    (1) 10 weight-percent of total polymer units derived from acrylic 
acid when used in accordance with paragraph (b) of this section; and
    (2) 25 weight-percent of total polymer units derived from acrylic 
acid when used in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) The finished food-contact articles made with no more than 10 
percent total polymer units derived from acrylic acid, when extracted 
with the solvent or solvents characterizing the type of food and under 
the conditions of its intended use as determined from tables 1 and 2 of 
Sec. 176.170(c) of this chapter, yield net acidified chloroform-soluble 
extractives not to exceed 0.5 milligram per square inch of food-contact 
surface when tested by the methods prescribed in Sec. 177.1330(e)(1), 
(3)(i) through (iv), (4), (5), and (6), except that
    (1) The total residue method using 3 percent acetic acid, as 
prescribed in Sec. 177.1330(e)(6)(i)(a), does not apply, and

[[Page 243]]

    (2) The net acidified chloroform-soluble extractives from paper and 
paperboard complying with Sec. 176.170 of this chapter may be corrected 
for wax, petrolatum, and mineral oil as provided in 
Sec. 176.170(d)(5)(iii)(b) of this chapter.

If the finished food-contact article is itself the subject of a 
regulation in parts 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, and Sec. 179.45 of this 
chapter, it shall also comply with any specifications and limitations 
prescribed for it by that regulation.
    (c) The finished food-contact layer made with basic copolymers 
containing more than 10 weight-percent but no more than 25 weight-
percent of total polymer units derived from acrylic acid and with a 
maximum thickness of 0.0025 inch (2.5 mils) may be used in contact with 
food types I, II, IVB, VIA, VIB, VIIB, and VIII identified in table 1 of 
Sec. 176.170(c) of the chapter under conditions of use B through H as 
described in table 2 of Sec. 176.170(c) of this chapter, and in contact 
with food types III, IVA, V, VIIA, and IX identified in table 1 of 
Sec. 176.170(c) of this chapter under conditions of use E through G as 
described in table 2 of Sec. 176.170(c) of this chapter.
    (d) The provisions of this section are not applicable to ethylene-
acrylic acid copolymers used in food-packaging adhesives complying with 
Sec. 175.105 of this chapter.

[42 FR 14572, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 51 FR 19060, May 27, 1986; 53 
FR 44009, Nov. 1, 1988]