Reform EU Food Packaging rules to better protect consumers

On its way from farm to fork, our food comes into contact with many different materials and products, such as food processing machines, plastic packaging or paper wraps, kitchen aids and ceramic tableware. While these materials are essential to how we store, handle, transport, preserve, and ultimately consume our food, they may also negatively impact the quality and safety of foodstuffs. Chemicals migrating from packaging can for example contaminate our food, thereby potentially creating risks for consumer health. Existing EU legislation is meant to safeguard consumers against such risks; however, the current rules are deficient and therefore provide insufficient protection of consumers.

A reformed Food Contact Materials (FCMs) regime must: 

1. Achieve comprehensive, harmonised regulation of all FCMs.
2. Establish a precautionary approach.
3. Shift the burden of proof.
4. Ensure effective enforcement.
5. Improve transparency to enable informed consumer choice.
6. Guarantee the same high level of protection for FCMs made from virgin and recycled materials