The principle underlying this Directive should be that any material or article intended to come into contact or which is intentionally in contact either directly or indirectly with foodstuffs, must be sufficiently stable not to transfer substances to the foodstuffs in quantities which could endanger human health or bring about an unacceptable change in the composition of the foodstuffs or a deterioration in the organoleptic properties thereof. Where appropriate, positive lists of substances shall be established for materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. The acceptability of a substance for inclusion in a positive list shall be determined by considering both the quantity of the substance which is liable to migrate into foodstuffs and the toxicity of the substance. A substance shall only be included in a positive list where, under normal or foreseeable conditions of use of any material or article which it forms a part, the substance is not liable to migrate into foodstuffs in a quantity likely to constitute a danger to human health.
Council Directive 89/109/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the Member States relating to materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs, OJ L 40/89, p.38