Ahead of this year's Food Contact Asia 2023, we spoke with Yada Chantarasomboon, Packaging Safety and Compliance Expert (AOA&GC) at Nestlé, to get a sneak peek of what we can expect from her presentation on 'End Users’ perspective on food packaging safety'. Here's what she had to say...


 

Your presentation at this year’s Food contact Asia will cover End Users’ perspective on food packaging safety. Why is it important for others in the industry to hear this message? 

:My lecture will present the perspective view from one of the main brand owner, who is using food packaging. It explains how we manage food packaging safety & compliance in a worldwide framework.
It’s important for companies producing food packaging (packaging manufacturers) to hear how brand owners manage food packaging safety & compliance to understand what are the requirements, 
as well as know the challenges of sustainable packaging transformation journey. 

What are some of the key take-aways of your presentation?

The Global approach for Food Contact Materials (FCM) safety & compliance is not an easy task due to very complexes FCM regulations around the world. 
However, since several years, we have observed synergies and convergences between requirements regarding FCM in general, and more specifically for polymers in the scope of plastic regulations.
The paper based packaging represent new challenges when global safety & compliance have to be accessed. 
Recycled materials, especially plastics, is now developing around the world and there is a need of alignment of regulations and requirements. 

What are the main challenges in your day-to-day work relating to Food Contact Materials? 

The FCM development is moving towards to more sustainable way with related to mono-materials and paper based packaging while there is no harmonization regulations on FCM in Asia.
The recycled materials is more and more used as FCM nowadays and risk of contamination need to be managed. To bear in mind that not every countries allowed the use of recycled material as FCM.

What are some of the biggest opportunities gaining attention within the food contact materials and/or packaging industry?

The move to more sustainable packaging and recycled FCM, will provide more opportunities to have more synergies and convergences on FCM regulations.

What do you think will be some of the most interesting advancements in food contact materials in the near future?
The alignment on FCM regulations.

Which presentation(s) are you most looking forward to hearing about at Food Contact Asia?

I’m personally interested in the update of FCM regulations in Asia e.g. Final Japan positive list, GB standards that will have many upcoming new versions.
And also would like to know FCM regulations in other zones as an exporter e.g. BPA concern in EU regulations, PFAS requirement in USA.