Authorities Must Defend EU Quality Norms

20 November 2015


Authorities Must Defend EU Quality Norms

Food and beverage convenience packaging companies in Europe call for zero tolerance of dangerous packs

Food and beverage service and convenience packaging manufacturers in Europe are repeating their concern that some packaging sourced outside the EU may be putting consumers in danger. 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.


"Members of Pack2Go Europe meet high quality standards set by the EU and policed by national control authorities," says Eamonn Bates, Secretary General of Pack2Go Europe, the European Association of food and beverage service and convenience packaging manufacturers. "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."


Pack2Go Europe is concerned that products manufactured outside Europe may carry quality marks fraudulently. Importers and distributors must be certain that products they put on the EU market really meet the claims made for them. Control authorities should apply equal vigilance to packaging produced inside and outside the EU.


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


The observations by Pack2Go Europe follow recent revelations made by the non-governmental organisation foodwatch 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.

 



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