Press Release: Active and ‘intelligent’ food packaging: Commission proposes amendment to EU law on materials which come into contact with food

The European Commission proposed on 17 November 2003 a revised Regulation on materials which come into contact with food. Among the proposed changes is a more modern approach to the principle that packaging materials should not interact with the food they contain. This will allow the introduction into the EU of 'active' and 'intelligent' packaging that, for example, prolongs shelf life or monitors and displays information about the freshness of food. The proposal will also set up traceability requirements so that materials coming into contact with food are identified at all stages of production and distribution. The proposal will now be examined by the European Parliament and the Council under the co-decision procedure.