Huskee Notification

Update #9  2022-05-02

More authorities are considering Huskee as in compliance with the current regulations in EU.  Recently -Denmark  -Hungary, -Germany, -Latvia and -Switzerland have agreed with Sweden.  We are doing all we can to speed up the resons from other countries.

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Update #8  2022-03-25

This morning we were informed by the Swedish authorities that after careful investigation of the new test results requested in November, they have now reached a conclusion. The authorities find that under the current regulations under the act EU 10/2011, the Huskee cups and saucers are safe and legal to buy, resell and market. This also disproves the Notification 2021.5998 that stated the they contained unauthorized lignocellulose in the first place. We expect the rest of EU to follow suit. Denmark has already confirmed the above.

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Update #7  2022-03-18

Swedish government wants further clarification on some components in the Huskee cups. Rasff has been updated with following information:

The local authority in Sweden is in contact with the importing company in Sweden and have received documents from the company's safety assessment.

The Swedish authorities are currently investigating whether lignocellulose can be seen as a starting substance or not and if the product can be seen as in compliance with the legislation. No sales ban has been initiated by the authority in Sweden. The company in Sweden has voluntary stopped selling the product until it can be concluded if the company's safety assessment can be considered ok. So far the authority in Sweden has no indication that the product can be seen as unsafe.”

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Update #6  2022-03-09

The test results all show that the Huskee cups have passed the stringent tests required by the authorities in Europe. All that remains is for them to approve the results and we are able to resume sales. We have no date but are hopeful it will be shortly.

Update #5 2022-02-22

All the tests were sent to the Danish authorities yesterday, all the results indicate that the cups are safe to use. We now wait for the authorities to approve the tests and for their communication that sales can recommence.

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Update #4, 2022-02-18

Within the next week the Danish authorities will receive the test reports to show that the cups contain the approved substance, lignocellulose. Once these reports are approved we'll be in a better position to be able to start selling Huskee again.

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Update #3, 2022-01-27

The results from the various extended tests was completed today, 2021-01-27. The process of compiling the results in a report is being finalized now.  

The report concludes that the plant based substance is extremely pure and in line with authority demands and regulatory requirements. Its chemical profile is the same as the substance on the positive list, approved according to the EU food contact regulation.

This is of course great news! It is everything we expected and hoped for.

At this point we have to wait for the authorities to analyze the results and officially approve the products for sale again.

Please continue to keep the products off the shelves while we wait to hear back.

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Update #2, 2022-01-21

The latest news that we have is that most of the tests are being carried out and many are complete. There are 3 labs involved in the process in 3 different countries. The number of migration tests is approx. 15 with about the same number of chemical analyses being performed. The data received shows promising results that the compositions of the cups is good and low on any 'impurities'.

Huskee are currently waiting for the final results from the migration tests which should be finalised within the next two weeks.

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Update #1, 2022-01-05

RASFF is updated with the following information.

fup8 #523757 - EC validated - AAC/RASFF - Sweden - Göteborg Municipal Authority  Wed, 29 Dec 2021 09:51:48

Summary Please note the information in fup4 (and fup6) which state that there is a temporary sales break during the period when the company is waiting for results from the ongoing test of the product’s composition. If the test shows that the product is ok it may be sold again. If, on the other hand, the test shows that the product is not ok, a withdrawal of the product will be relevant. The test results are expected at the end of January 2022.

ORIGINAL INFORMATION UPLOADED BELOW 2021-12-28

This document is designed to answer questions and shed light on the notification from the authorities in December 2021, about Huskee being a product not approved for the EU-market.

Products affected? 

Products under the brand "Huskee" consists of cups, lids and saucers that are produced with with re-purposed waste from harvesting coffee, namely coffee husk. To make the product durable and re-purposed at end of its life, the husk is produced with a more solid material called polypropylene.

Short History

Estonian authorities created a notification in European notifications database (RASFF, this is the EU messaging system for issues around eatables), in November 2021 with the subject "Unauthorized use of lignocellulose in cups". This notification from the authorities show clearly that the risk decision was, and still is, "Not Serious". Being the lowest level of risk in the database.  Lignocellulose refers to plant dry matter (biomass).

Declaration of Compliance

In order to legally place your product on the EU market, the chemical content of the products must be clarified, and tested. Huskee have done so, tests are available and passed, so is the Declaration of Compliance, (DoC) . To read more in depth, see document "Doc:Certification#13"

So why the notification?

In an ever-evolving search for new sustainable and re-purposed products, new innovative materials are being used. In this case, husk is a completely new material, and is not by its name, on any EU allowed substance lists. Thus, the Estonian authority, sent the notification based on the rule that "intentionally added lignocellulose" is not allowed. The coffee plant that produces the coffee, the berries and the husk all has naturally lignocellulose. There is nothing added. Lignocellulose as such is approved to be used as food contact material in the EU and Huskee has been operating in good faith relying on this fact. EU regulations evolve and now a request for additional data has been made. Huskee has agreed to hold sales when awaiting the new results.

What is happening now?

Huskee has been in contact with several member state authorities and received recommendations to conduct a few extra tests to show that there is no issue with this new material and the combination with plastic. The tests are already underway and as soon as the results are presented to the authority they will make a well educated decision based on the new findings. This is due to be made before the end of January 2021.

Please hold sales temporary

While the process is underway and awaiting the additional tests to be completed, we have been asked by the authorities to temporarily hold sales. They also advise us to ask our customers to hold sales. This is for a few weeks, awaiting the results. At this point there is no need to return already sold units. Nor is there any recommendation to withdraw the product for the market.  See Huskee Statement "Huskee Statement_EU Temporary Stop_Sale"

Key points:

1. Tests for DoC shows there is no risk using the cup.   

2. We ask resellers to temporarily stop selling Huskee during the new evaluation.

3. Updated guidelines will be presented before the end of January.

4. To read more in depth see attached documents.

This document will be updated as new information arrises. Save the link for future reference.