New EU rules ahead on plastic food packaging

New EU rules for food contact in plastic packaging are on the horizon. A proposed regulation known as the Plastic Implementation Measure (PIM) has been approved by the EU’s Council of Ministers. After the Council gives its consent, the Commission may adopt the rules unless the European Parliament objects.

The draft regulation aims to unify all EU legislation on food contact plastics. The regulation is due to come into force in May. However, given the all the current legislation it would repeal, its full introduction will be enacted gradually until January 2016. The regulation outlines the need for a more rigorous regime in areas such as migration because the plastic used in food contact materials has become much more complex.