Safety Assessment of 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate Phosphate as a Monomer for Plastic Food Contact Materials

Purpose：The assessment evaluates HEMA-phosphate as a monomer for plastic food-contact articles used in kitchen countertops and sinks.

System and methods：The FSA and FSS reviewed substance identity, physical and chemical properties, intended use, migration, residual content and toxicological data, with review by the Food Contact Materials Joint Expert Group and the Committee on Toxicity.

Key findings and mechanism：The assessment was completed by the UK FSA and Food Standards Scotland using substance identity, physical and chemical properties, intended use, migration, residual content and toxicology. The Food Contact Materials Joint Expert Group and Committee on Toxicity reviewed the dossier and found no human safety concern for the specified countertop and sink application. The report is a risk assessment rather than an adhesion or cure study. It focuses on residual monomer, migration into food, exposure and toxicological thresholds. The substance name was later aligned with phosphoric acid mixed esters with hydroxyethyl methacrylate without changing the conclusion.

Application value and limits：The report is useful for regulation, migration, residual-content and risk-management context. Any food-contact or cosmetic application still requires target-market authorization, migration limits and finished-product compliance assessment. The conclusion applies only to the specified substance and commercial use. It does not authorize every phosphate ester for food contact and does not automatically cover cosmetic or medical uses. Target-market authorization, migration limits, finished formulation and supply-chain documents still require review.