Plastics and Paper 2011 conference highlights

This year's pre-conference workshop and three day conference programme featured over 25 key industry figures presenting on the latest legislation, compliance case studies and pertinent issues of plastic and paper packaging in contact with foodstuffs, plus information on inks, coating and adhesives, making this year's event "much broader "food contact" conference, not just relating to plastics and paper", Robert Broughton, Amcor.

Paper in Contact with Foodstuffs - event highlights from Barry Podd, Kimberley Clark

The conference started with and excellent overview from Annette Schaefer on the current requirements for Paper and Board under the Framework Regulation raising the question "what would be the value of developing a specific measure for paper and board?". This was followed by a series of presentations from all the key parts of the supply chain from the paper manufacturers all the way through to the food industry on the implementation of the Industry Guideline and the advantages that it brings to the safe use of food contact materials and articles manufactured from paper and board. Each presentation included something on the issue surrounding mineral oils and their presence in food contact materials and articles. The presentations on the use of recycled fibre in Europe and the US source of the contamination highlighted the differences in concern on this issue because the US Authorities appear to be more relaxed about it than their couterparts in Europe. The conference also highlighted the work completed by EFSA on the non-plastic guidelines and the approach they are developing on handling chemicals in the future.

Other highlights of the programmes were:

- Opening keynotes from Annette Schaefer of the European Commision, providing an update on EU regulations
- A description of the EFSA guidelines on engineered nanomaterials
- An update of current and developing printing inks legislation from Joerg-Peter Langhammer from EuPia
- Insights into FDA regulatory developments from Mitchell Cheeseman, former Acting Director of
- Perspectives from the Italian and Danish regulatory bodies
- Updates on the FACET project from Peter Oldring of Valspar
- A whole session and interactive panel discussion focusing on the challenges of using recovered fibre in food packaging

Joined our Linked In group to keep up to date with food contact industry developments all year round.

Speaking companies included: