[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 3]
[Revised as of April 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR178.3700]

[Page 412]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                          SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 178--INDIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES: ADJUVANTS, PRODUCTION AIDS, AND SANITIZERS--Table of Contents
 
            Subpart D--Certain Adjuvants and Production Aids
 
Sec. 178.3700  Petrolatum.

    Petrolatum may be safety used as a component of nonfood articles in 
contact with food, in accordance with the following conditions:
    (a) Petrolatum complies with the specifications set forth in the 
United States Pharmacopeia XX (1980) for white petrolatum or in the 
National Formulary XV (1980) for yellow petrolatum.
    (b) Petrolatum meets the following ultraviolet absorbance limits 
when subjected to the analytical procedure described in Sec. 172.886(b) 
of this chapter:
    Ultraviolet absorbance per centimeter pathlength:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Millimicrons                            Maximum
------------------------------------------------------------------------
280 to 289..................................................        0.25
290 to 299..................................................         .20
300 to 359..................................................         .14
360 to 400..................................................         .04
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) It is used or intended for use as a protective coating of the 
surfaces of metal or wood tanks used in fermentation process, in an 
amount not in excess of that required to produce its intended effect.
    (d) Petrolatum as defined by this section may be used for the 
functions described and within the limitations prescribed by specific 
regulations in parts 175, 176, 177, and 178 of this chapter which 
prescribe uses of petrolatum. For the purpose of cross-reference, such 
specific regulations include: Secs. 175.105, 175.125, 175.300, 176.170, 
176.200, 176.210, 177.2600, 177.2800, and 178.3570 of this chapter.
    (e) Petrolatum may contain any antioxidant permitted in food by 
regulations issued pursuant to section 409 of the act, in an amount not 
greater than that required to produce its intended effect.

[42 FR 14609, Mar. 15, 1977, as amended at 49 FR 10113, Mar. 19, 1984; 
55 FR 12172, Apr. 2, 1990]