From:Packaging News

European food and beverage service packaging manufacturers have repeated their concerns of dangerous packaging sourced outside the EU.

Pack2Go Europe, the European Association of food and beverage service and convenience packaging manufacturers, is concerned that products manufactured outside Europe may carry quality marks fraudulently.

Paper packaging manufacturers in Asia tested by Pack2Go Europe in the past year was found to contain recycled fibres which are not allowed in packaging in direct contact with food and drinks according to EU rules.

Recycled fibres can contain contaminants that present a danger to consumers.

Recent revelations made by the non-governmental organisation Foodwatch claimed that over 80% of paper and board packaging for dried foods surveyed in France, Germany and the Netherlands contain mineral oils, underlining the need for control authorities to better enforce EU quality norms.

Eamonn Bates, secretary general of Pack2Go Europe, said: “There must be zero tolerance for products not meeting quality and safety requirements designed to protect consumers. The authorities need to take this seriously and importers and distributors need to be much more vigilant about what they trade in Europe.”

The Foodservice Packaging Association endorsed the call from Pack2Go, warnign that it is very likely that some businesses, particularly single sites with limited resources and operating under great pressure, are not aware these rules exist.

“We have to get the message across to them so that they are aware of the questions they should be asking their packaging suppliers and the evidence of conformity they are entitled to see. The Food Standards Agency have a part to play in this as do retail organisations and ourselves. This issue will only be overcome when more attention is given to packaging at the point of entry to the EU and by the food packaging purchasers refusing to purchase packaging that doesn’t carry the correct paperwork to prove it conforms,” read a statement.

CEOs of service and convenience packaging manufacturers will meet in Brussels this month to consider this and other strategic issues for the industry.