International Conference on Food Contact Polymers

14-Oct-06

Rapra Technology is organising its second International Conference on Food Contact Polymers, taking place in Brussels from 21-22 February 2007. The conference will feature presentations from key players in the global polymer market on food-approved grades of materials, legislation and testing. In European Union countries every year more than 10 million tons of plastics are used for packaging, of which up to 50% are used in food packaging. This highly fragmented and specialised industry is subject to strict regulations on a framework of toxicological standards and experimental procedures to assess and monitor the impact of migration from plastic food contact materials into our food. The EU is now working towards harmonisation to provide businesses with one set of rules to comply with throughout the EU, instead of the plethora of national rules in different EU Member States which currently exists. Taking into account the wide spectrum of plastics used nowadays in food packaging and the large number of substances which might migrate rom these materials, the fulfilment of these requirements is a challenge. There are also numerous new materials entering the food packaging market. Biodegradable and recycled plastics and active and intelligent food packaging are not wholly covered by existing legislation and amendments are needed to bring these in line with other directives. These issues will be addressed at Rapra Technology's Food Contact Polymers conference along side developments in approved materials and additives, case studies of polymers in contact with food and migration research studies. The technical programme has now been announced and includes papers from Du Pont, GE Bayer Silicones, Ineos Vinyls, Henkel, Milliken Europe, Valspar and Novamont as well as renowned legal firm Keller & Heckman. Programme highlights include presentations on the super cleaning and recycling of HDPE and PET bottles; nucleation and clarification technologies for food contact applications and the use of silicone elastomers in food contact applications. (Press Release)