Packaging Standards
Packaging Standards
Chapter
13
PACKAGING MATERIALS AND
PACKAGED COMMODITIES
— LAWS AND REGULATIONS
V D Sattigeri
Chapter 13
Products Order, Vanaspati Control Order, basic resin, emulsifiers and suspension
Stds. of Weight and Measures, and agents, catalysts, polymerization ingre-
AGMARK Values. PFA Act under rule 49 dients, lubricants, antioxidants, antistatic
(5) specifies that plastic materials shall and antiflogging agents in polyethylene.
conform to the following Indian Standards
IS: 10171-1986: Guide on suitability of
specifications, namely:
plastics for the food packaging covers
a) IS: 10146- Specification for Polyethylene primarily various thermoplastics singly or
in contact with food stuffs. in combinations suitable for food contact
applications.
b) IS:10142-Specification for Styrene
polymers in contact with food stuffs. IS: 9845-1998: Deals with determination
of overall migration of constituents of plastic
c) IS:10151-Specification for Polyvinyl-
materials and articles intended to come in
chloride in contact with food stuffs.
contact with foodstuffs, for different types of
d) IS:10910-Specification for Polypropy- foods.
lene in contact with food stuffs.
IS: 10106 (Part 1 / Sec 1) - 1990: Deals
e) IS:11434-Specification for Ionomer with packaging code. This code has
resins in contact with food stuffs. classified foodstuffs and perishables in
f) IS:11704-Specification for Ethylene categories of decreasing order of perisha-
acrylic acid copolymer. bility and laid down guidelines for packa-
ging of various foodstuffs so as to avoid
g) IS: 12252 - Specification for Polyal- deterioration. For returnable containers, it
kylene terephthalates. has further explained the procedure to keep
h) IS:12247-Specification for Nylon 6 the containers clean for re-use. The code has
polymer. recommended various types of packaging
materials such as PET / LDPE, BOPP /
i) IS: 1360 -Specification for Ethylene LDPE, glassine / LDPE-HDPE containers,
vinyl acetate. cans, glass-bottles, flexible laminated pou-
j) IS:13576-Specification for Ethylene meta ches, plastic film, corrugated fibre-board
acrylic acid. box, LDPE liner bags, paper bags, etc.
Packaging of some foodstuffs and perisha-
Tin and plastic containers once used
bles have been covered. The code has classi-
shall not be re-used for packaging of edible
fied foodstuffs and perishables into the
oils and fats.
following categories in their decreasing
Also, the following BIS standards cover order of perishability.
• Milk and milk products
various related aspects:
IS:9833-1981: Covers standard on per-
mitted pigments and colourants. • Fruit and vegetables
IS:10141-1982: Mentions positive list of • Meat, fish and poultry
constituents of PE in contact with foodstuffs, • Bakery rich foods
pharmaceuticals and drinking water —
covers positive list of constituents, such as • Protein rich foods
PLASTICS IN FOOD PACKAGING
PACKAGING MATERIALS AND PACKAGED
COMMODITIES — LAWS AND REGULATIONS 229
• Edible starches and starch products plastics. The Framework Directive has been
• Oils and fats
implemented by the Materials and Articles
in Contact with Food Regulations 1987, as
• Foodgrains and foodgrain products amended.
coatings obtained from resinous or for food contact materials; address <http:/
polymerized products such as varnished, /cpf.jrc.it/webpack/>.
lacquers, paints, etc., epoxy resins,
adhesives and adhesion promoters and Testing compliance with migration
printing inks. As a result, these substances limits
can only be used if they comply with the Directives 82/711/EEC, 85/572/EEC,
general requirements of the framework 93/8/EEC and 97/148/EEC lay down the
Directive. rules for testing migration from plastic food
Separate Directives 78/142/EEC, 80/ contact materials to check compliance with
766/EEC and 81/432/EEC, predating the requirements of the plastics legislation.
2002/72/EC, restrict the use of vinyl Migration tests are made using ‘simulants’
chloride monomer in the manufacture of which represent the various food types,
food contact plastics, and lay down the and times and temperatures which match
laboratory methods for testing compliance those foreseeable in use. Details of the
with the restrictions. 78/142/EEC sets a simulants and basic test conditions are
residual limit (QM) of 1 milligram vinyl given in 82/711/EEC, and its second
chloride per kilogram of material or article, amendment 97/48/EEC. The selection of
and a migration limit (SML) of 0.01 simulant for various categories of food is
milligram vinyl chloride per kilogram of laid down in 85/572/EEC.
food. These Directives are implemented by Recent Developments in the
the Materials and Articles in Contact with
Food Regulations 1987.
Food Contact Materials Legislation
The European Commission has
Additives proposed replacing the Framework
There is an ‘incomplete list’ of additives Directive 89/109/EEC. This will take
used in the manufacture of food contact account of the European Food Law
plastics contained in Directive 2002/72/ Regulation and the establishment of the
EC. It is not a ‘positive list’, but rather a European Food Safety Authority. The new
list of additives approved by the European Directive being proposed includes
provision to make ‘measures’, this will
Commission’s Scientific Committee on
provide scope for the Commission to make
Food. Additives not on the list, which meet
directly applicable regulations as well as
the general requirements of the Framework
directives or even other forms of instrument.
Directive, can continue to be used until the
EC regulations are often preferred to
Commission is able to propose a positive
Directives because they have immediate
list.
effect without having to be implemented in
The current status of monomers, national law. In addition, the proposals
starting substances and additives, include general provisions including
including those not yet listed in Directive important definitions on so-called ‘active’
2002/72/EC, is given in the Commission’s and ‘intelligent’ packaging, but other issues
Synoptic Document and Practical Guide are still being discussed within the
both of these documents are published on Commission and have yet to emerge for
the Internet at the Commission’s website negotiation with Member States.
Proposal to amend Directive 93/10/ migration limit (SML) given for a monomer
EEC on regenerated cellulose film has been or additive in the plastic Directive, 2002/
tabled to deal with new types of 72/EC be applied to the same monomer or
regenerated cellulose film with a coating additive when used in a plastic coating,
derived from plastic that is compostible which is currently outside the scope of
and biodegradable. that Directive? In this particular case, the
The Commission is also proposing to European Commission has stated that it
amend Directive 84/500/EEC on ceramics cannot be assumed that the SML will
to ensure comformity with current ISO automatically apply, because the Scientific
standards, to explore broadening its scope Committee on Food may make a different
to include glass and enamel and to explore risk assessment for the coating (although
the use of certificates of compliance. the toxicological status of the substance is
not at issue). However, it may be quite
Meeting the Requirements of the some time before such an assessment is
Legislation Responsibilities under the available from the Committee, and in the
Legislation meantime, it would seem sensible to keep
migration from such coatings within the
It is an offence to sell, use in the course SMLs given 2002/72/EC.
of business or import materials or articles
intended for contact with food which do REGULATIONS OF CANADA
not comply with the food contact materials
The safety of all materials used for
and articles legislation. There is no system
packaging foods is controlled under
of Government approval for food contact
Division 23 of the Food and Drugs Act
materials and articles. Instead, the
and Regulations, Section B.23.0001 which
responsibility for ensuring compliance
prohibits the sale of foods in packages that
with the legislation lies with the manu-
may impart harmful substances to their
facturer, retailer and importer. They have
contents. This regulation puts the onus
to take all reasonable precautions, and
clearly on the food seller (manufacturer,
exercise all due diligence, to avoid
distributor, etc.) to ensure that any
committing an offence. The courts decide
packaging material that is used in the sale
what is reasonable, but for those who
of food products will meet that
produce food contact materials and articles,
requirement.
this may involve conducting migration
tests, while for those who use the materials Premarket Assessments
or articles, it may simply involve obtaining
assurances from the manufacturer that the Because of the general nature of this
product complies. The legislation is requirement, and in the absence of positive
enforced by Trading Standards Officers lists delineating permitted ingredients,
and Environmental Health Officers as packaging materials intended for use with
applicable locally. foods may be submitted voluntarily to the
Food Directorate (FD) for a premarket
Presumptive Standards assessment of their chemical safety in
There is also the issue of ‘presumptive relation to Section B.23.001. This applies
standards’. For example, can a specific to any type of material, whether it is in the
• Many of FCSs are only regulated for • Fish and fish products;
use under 21 CFR 175.105. In the • Peanuts, soybeans and products of
absence of appropriate information, these;
such as migration studies, on which to
base a numerical estimates of exposure, • Milk and milk products (lactose
FDA assumes a default CEDI of 7 ppb included);
(corresponding to a cumulative intake • Tree nuts and nut products; and
• Sulphite in concentrations of 10
of 0.00035 mg / kg. bw / d).
LABELLING REQUIREMENTS mg/kg or more.
FOR PREPACKED FOODS A specific name shall be used for
Codex Standard ingredients in the list of ingredients except
that;
1985 (Rev.1-1991) of Codex
Alimentarius Commission has brought out a) For ingredients falling in the respective
Codex General Standard for the labelling classes, the following class tittles may
of prepackaged foods. be used, namely:
Salient features of the guidelines are: – Edible vegetable oil / Edible vege-
table fat or both hydrogenated or
1. Prepackaged food shall not be partially.
described in a manner that amounts to
– Hydrogenated oil.
mislead / deceive the consumer.
2. The label shall not have any words, – Starch.
pictures or other devices which directly – Fish.
or indirectly refer to any other product. – Poultry meat.
3. The name of food - it shall be specific
– Cheese.
and not generic.
– Spices herbs / condiments or mixed
4. List of ingredients: All ingredients
spices / herbs / condiments as
under the title ‘Ingredient’ - shall be
appropriate.
mentioned in the descending order of
in-going weight at the time of – Gum base.
manufacture of the food. – Sugar.
5. The following foods and ingredients – Dextrose or Glucose.
are known to cause hypersensitivity
and shall always be declared: – Caseinates.
• Cereals containing gluten; i.e., – Cocoa butter.
wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt or their – Crystallized fruit.
hybridized strains and products of
these; – Milk solids.
• Crustacea and products of these; – Cocoa solids.
• Eggs and egg products; The ingredients of pork fat, lard and
beef fat or extract thereof shall always be ii) The number of grams of protein,
declared by their specific names. available carbohydrate and, per 100
grams or 100 ml of the food as sold
The label shall also contain:
and where appropriate per specified
Name and Address. quantity of the food as suggested for
Country of origin. consumption.
Lot of identification. iii) The total quantity of those specific
nutrients or other components which
Pali marking and storage instruction.
provide the characterizing essential
Instruction for use. feature for the special dietary use for
Any information or pictorial device which the food is intended per 100
written, printed or graphic matter, may be grams or 100 ml of the food as sold
displayed in labelling, provided that it is where appropriate per specified
not in conflict with the mandatory quantity of the food as suggested for
requirements of this rule, and those relating consumption.
to claims and deception. Presentation of Nutrient Content
NUTRITION LABELLING Energy value shall be expressed in KJ
and K cal per 100 g or 100 ml.
Codex hs laid down guidelines for
nutrition labelling of packaged foods in Information on the amounts of protein,
CAC/GL-2-1985 (Rev. 1-1993). Nutrition carbohydrate and fat in the food shall be
labelling serves the following purpose: expressed in g per 100 g or per 100 ml or
providing the consumer with information per package if the package contains only a
about a food so that a wise choice of food single portion. In addition, this infor-
is made. It conveys information of the mation may be given per serving as
nutrient content of a food (on the label). quantified on the label or per portion
provided that the number of portions
Nutrition Claims contained in the package is stated.
Nutrient declaration shall be Numerical information on vitamins and
mandatory for foods for which Nutrition minerals shall be expressed in metric units
Claims are made. Nutrient declaration may and / or as a percentage of the Nutrient
be voluntary for all other foods. Nutritional Reference Value per 100 g or per 100 ml or
Claims shall not be made without per package, if the package contains only
Nutritional Labelling. a single portion. In addition, this infor-
Declaration of Nutrition Information: mation may be given per serving as quanti-
fied on the label or per portion provided
i) The amount of energy per 100 g or the number of portions contained in the
100 ml of the food as sold and where package is stated.
appropriate per specified quantity of
the food as suggested for consum- Nutrition Claim means any represen-
ption, expressed in kilocalories (K cal) tation which states, suggests or implies that
and kilo joules (KJ). a food has particular nutritional properties
including but not limited to the energy foods. Some of the important requirements
value and to the content of protein, fat and are mentioned below:
carbohydrates, as well as the content of
vitamins and minerals. Every package shall carry a label with:
The following Nutrition Claims shall be a) Name, trade name or description of the
prohibited: food contained in the package.
Claims stating that any given food will b) The names of ingredients in descending
provide an adequate source of all essential order of their composition by weight or
nutrients, except in the case of well defined volume.
products for which a standard regulates
c) The name and address of the
such claims as admissible claims.
manufacturer, its weight, batch no., date
Claims implying that a balanced diet of manufacture, best before date shall
or ordinary foods cannot supply adequate be declared.
amounts of nutrients.
d) The food claimed to be enriched with
Claims which cannot be substantiated. nutrients such as minerals, proteins, or
Claims as to the stability of a food for vitamins shall give the quantities of
use in the prevention, attenuation, such added nutrients on the label.
treatment or cure of a disease, disorder or
e) Labels shall not contain false or
particular physiological condition.
misleading statements. Claim, design,
Claims which could give rise to doubt device, fancy name or abbreviation
about the safety of similar food or which which is false and misleading in any
could arouse or exploit fear in the particular concerning the food in the
consumer. package.
Claims that a food has special f) Infant milk substitutes and infant
characteristics. foods—the label shall include:
– When all such foods have the same – Composition of nutrients per 100 g
characteristics shall not be used.
and energy value.
– Terms such as ‘natural’, ‘pure’,
– Instructions for use and preparation.
‘fresh’, ‘home made’, ‘organically
grown’ and ‘biologically grown’ shall – Storage condition.
not be used.
– Batch No., date of manufacture and
– The term ‘incomplete’, ‘comparative’, best before date.
‘superlative’, ‘wholesome’, ‘healthful’
g) Edible Oils and Fats: Expressions such
and ‘sound’ shall not be used.
as Extra refined, Super refined, Micro-
Prevention of Food Adulteration refined, Double-refined, Ultra-refined,
Act 1954 Anti cholesterol, cholesterol-fighter are
not permitted.
Under this Act, Rule 32 has laid down
requirement for packing and labelling of h) Imitations not to be marked “Pure”.