Paper and board is commonly used for food packaging and the industry takes the matter of food contact very seriously.  On behalf of the UK paper and board industry, CPI works closely with the Food Standards Agency and with CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries).

The manufacture of materials and articles intended to contact foodstuffs is covered by EU Regulation 1935/2004 and this measure, known as the "Framework" Regulation applies to all packaging materials.  Individual materials are covered by 'specific measures'.  No specific measure has been written by the EU for paper and board so the industry has taken the proactive step of writing an Industry Guideline itself.  It was formally launched in May, 2010.

Industry Guideline

Other work in progress in this area includes the development of a Good Manufacturing Practice to bring industry into line with EU Regulation 2023/2006, R&D on migration modelling and correction factors (examining real-case consumer exposure to substances in packaging) and the further development of biological tests that improve the safety assessment of paper packaging used for food contact.