In the News

EU Publishes Regulation on Active and Intelligent Packaging

Jun 9, 2009

The European Union's (EU) new regulation on active and intelligent materials intended to come into contact with food (Regulation (EC) No 450/2009) will become effective on June 18, 2009, or 20 days after it was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on May 29.

The regulation defines "active materials and articles" as "materials and articles that are intended to extend the shelf-life or to maintain or improve the condition of packaged food; they are designed to deliberately incorporate components that would release or absorb substances into or from the packaged food or the environment surrounding the food."  "Intelligent materials and articles" are defined as "materials and articles which monitor the condition of packaged food or the environment surrounding the food."

The regulation specifies that all of the provisions in the Framework Directive (Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004) apply to active and intelligent materials. Other provisions in (EC) No 450/2009 include rules on labeling, a Declaration of Compliance requirement, and application of the functional barrier doctrine. Non-edible parts of active and intelligent packages that can be perceived as edible should be labeled, "Do Not Eat," and, where technically possible, include the symbol that is shown in Annex I of the regulation.