BSI launches new food packaging standard

　　British Standards Institution has launched a new standard for food packaging safety amid fears that some commonly used materials could be a health risk.
　
　　PAS 223 – Prerequisite programmes and design requirements for food safety in the manufacture and provision of food packaging – aims to ensure confidence in food and drink packaging systems and bring consistency across global packaging industry practices.

 　　It supports the implementation of ISO 22000, the global food safety management system, which requires that organisations establish, implement and maintain prerequisite programmes to assist in controlling food safety hazards.

　　The development of the PAS standard was sponsored by SSAFE (Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere) with a steering group, which consisted of leading global packaging companies such as Alpla, Amcor, OwensIllinois, Rexam and TetraPak and food manufacturers including Nestlé, Kraft and Unilever.

　　It follows concerns sparked by a Swiss study which found that the mineral oils in printing ink from newspapers recycled into cardboard could contaminate food.

　　BSI director of British Standards Mike Low said: "By working closely with leading food, drink and packaging manufacturers, BSI has developed a set of prerequisite requirements that will help lower the risk of food safety hazards across the food supply chain."