The European Commission has issued a new directive on plastics food packaging which will come into effect from 5th September.
The Commission Directive relating to plastic materials and articles intended to come in contact with foodstuffs, was initially issued in February 1990, and was amended seven times. The new Directive incorporates all the provisions of the former Monomers Directive, as it has come to be known. "While we could possibly still refer to the new Directive as the 'Monomers Directive' it may be more appropriate - and less confusing - to refer to the new Directive as the 'Plastics Directive' a name that better corresponds to the content of the Directive," said Brussels-based Keller and Heckman partner Jean-Philippe Montfort.
The Directive will include a list of plastic packaging guidelines, created with consumer safety in mind. These guidelines include a list of safe materials and chemicals that can be used, as well as specific packaging methods preferred by the EC.