I&P Europe supports EU wide food packaging regulation
I&P Europe – Imaging and Printing Association e.V. is the European association of product manufacturers and technology providers for the imaging and printing industry. The products of I&P Europe members include conventional and digital materials and their processing solutions. The main focus of the association’s activities is on regulatory compliance issues in health, safety and environment.
Printing is an important step in the manufacturing process for safe food packaging. The association I&P Europe is highly committed to this issue. For this reason, I&P Europe constantly monitors relevant market developments and legislative activities and takes part in expert committees to support legislators.From I&P Europe’s viewpoint, the current regulatory situation in the European Union is not satisfactory, because the existing Framework Directive (EC) No 1935/2004 prescribes only general principles for action. Moreover, not all of the food contact materials named in this Framework Directive are regulated by specific conformity requirements. The rules of Good Manufacturing Practice under Directive (EC) No 2023/2006 apply additionally but these quality measures, too, can only unfold their effect if all components of the food packaging are subject to regulation.Aiming to enhance the safety of offset printed folding boxes, I&P Europe performed tests for a non-regulated product group. More specifically, this was about washes used in automatic washing systems of modern offset printing machines, in order not to interrupt the production process. These washes are not part of the food packaging. However, in the least favourable case they can transfer to the print product in carryover processes.A study with worst case assumptions was carried out together with the renowned test institute FABES Forschungs-GmbH (Munich). Testing included different types of washing systems and different washes used by member companies of I&P Europe. The investigation report shows that – under intended and correct use – the verification limit of 10 ppb (=10 µg/kg) of wash constituents is not exceeded in food packaging applications.The certificate of conformity issued by FABES Forschungs-GmbH confirms that the tested product group fulfils the requirements of existing European legislation in the food contact sector. This makes the investigation report for washes an important starting point for safe food packaging.Further standardisation activities of the association I&P Europe and its membership are currently being prepared.More details are available from I&P Europe directly (www.ip-europe.com) and from the member companies.