Thousands of food & drink companies are facing mass confusion over how to comply with new EU packaging restrictions to protect against harm from so-called “forever chemicals”.
New rules came into force today (12 August) for companies supplying the EU and Northern Ireland, with huge numbers of food & drink companies included.
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) bans the intentional use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or “forever chemicals”, in food-contact packaging.
But with no harmonised EU methodology testing for packaging used in food-contact to ensure that it does not contain PFAs, supermarket bosses and suppliers said the task was nigh on impossible.
They warned that the introduction of the new rules, part of a sweeping series of measures aimed at slashing single-use plastic and making packaging more sustainable, was being tarnished by a lack of guidance and questions over compliance.
Leading compliance body Valpak said it had been inundated with a “phenomenal number of queries” from companies unsure how the PPWR worked, with more than 100 queries a week coming in from companies as the deadline approached.
From today, any food & drink businesses that trades with the EU or Northern Ireland will need to make changes to packaging in order to comply with the new regulations. Every packaging unit produced after that date will have to hold a Declaration of Conformity (DoC) and technical documentation evidencing compliance with EU sustainability requirements,
“The guidance on how businesses can demonstrate that their packaging will be compliant with new PFAS restrictions remains incomplete – especially since there’s no consistent testing methodology for packaging across Europe,” said David Bellamy, head of packaging at the FDF, said.
“Businesses that supply the EU and Northern Ireland are awaiting this further clarity.”
He added: “On top of that, while the UK government has expressed intent for the UK to eventually align with the European requirements when it comes to labelling, it has not laid out a roadmap for when that will happen or what exactly would be in scope.
“This complicates investment decisions, and could leave UK businesses playing catch-up, where their European peers have had years to prepare.”
A supplier source told The Grocer: “Essentially it’s the testing and evidencing of conformity that’s the gap here.
“There’s no one approved way of proving no PFAs and until that is clear there is huge uncertainty for companies.”
Naomi Brandon-Bravo, sustainability policy advisor at the BRC, told The Grocer: ”PPWR is a significant piece of EU legislation, with retailers navigating complex technical requirements across borders, incurring both financial and administrative costs.
”In particular, as we await further implementing acts, consultations and guidance, the industry is working collaboratively with both suppliers and regulators to address a severe lack of confidence around compliance, and navigate any future potential GB alignment with Northern Ireland.”
Lucy Dolan, operations manager at Valpak, said: “Valpak has seen a phenomenal number of queries leading up to the deadline – over 100 each week. Many are SMEs but, whatever the size of business, the challenge is the same. Every business is looking for advice on what they need to do, and when they need to do it.
“We are also seeing confusion around packaging produced before 12 August.”
No comments yet