The Ministry of Health has published the report on the controls carried out in 2023 on materials and objects intended to come into contact with food products (MOCA): plastic, stainless steel, glass, ceramic and plastic containing bamboo.The controls on these MOCA were carried out according to the Official Multi-Year Control Plan 2023-2027 . The report, edited by the One Health Department, therefore refers to the first year of implementation of the Plan.
8 out of 1117 samples non-compliant
Of the 1117 total samples, only 8 samples were found to be non-compliant, equal to 0.72%. These samples were taken from retail distribution and concentrated the non-conformities mainly on stainless steel MOCA, followed (about a third of the non-compliant samples) by plastic ones.While the presence of Chromium is the predominant substance in non-compliant MOCA made of stainless steel, lead and melamine were mainly detected in those made of plastic.
Even though not foreseen by the Plan, types of MOCA other than those foreseen by the National Plan were sampled , such as: wood, paper and cardboard, paper and cardboard with plastic in direct contact with food.
Compliant Operators
The report highlights that the small number of non-compliant samples found compared to the number of checks carried out (8 out of 1117) "is certainly a positive aspect and an indication that the operators in the MOCA sector have worked in compliance with the current sector regulations".73% of the sampling was carried out at retail distribution.