European law will impact on plastics packaging

Users of plastic food packaging could face unpleasant surprises if they ignore changes implemented as part of last year’s amendment to the EU Plastics Directive.

The main things contained within the amendment are some additions to the positive list of approved food packaging materials, which now covers about 800 substances. It also sets a deadline of December 31 2009, up to which materials not on the positive list may continue to be used, and prohibits their use subsequently.

“It is a reasonably limited set of amendments to the positive list,” said Dr Alistair Irvine, principal consultant within the analytical services section of the packaging industry consultancy Pira International.

While the changes are unlikely to affect most commonly used plastics, “undoubtedly there will be materials out there used in small amounts that will get hit by it”, warns Irvine.

“There will be some products on the margin that people have been previously using on national approvals that might not be approved and not on the list … now is the time to check your position with your suppliers.”

Irvine added: “One really important thing to bear in mind as well is the European definition of what constitutes an additive. There are things that are commonly used and are not listed which don’t meet the definition of additive in the Directive.”

These include some chemicals that are added to produce the plastic, such as aids to polymerisation or catalysts, which are not covered by the Directive. An additive is essentially something that you add into the plastic to get an effect on the finished product, such as an antioxidant or antistatic, although colourants are generally excluded “in large measure”, said Irvine.

“So there are a few little blind spots in the legislation as it currently stands.”