Page 70 - FoodFocusThailand No.218 MAY 2024

STRENGTHEN THE PACKAGING

gradually adapting their own food packaging regulations to
align with those of the EU and US. This trend is driven by
the fact that a significant portion of Asian countries rely on
exporting food products to these major markets. As a result,
staying up-to-date with EU and US regulations becomes
crucial for Asian exporters. Here’s a closer look at the key
changes driving this regulatory shift:
• Indonesia has amended its food packaging laws, with
the draft version being published in December 2023.
• Singapore introduced a deposit system for beverage
packaging in March 2023, which will come into effect in April
2025. Additionally, there has been a review of laws supporting
sustainable materials, including the imposition of fees for
plastic bags. This draft law was submitted to the parliament
for consideration in February 2023.
• The Philippines began pushing legislation regarding
food contact materials in February 2023, starting with
voluntary compliance.
• Vietnam started supporting knowledge dissemination
on recycling and its environmental impacts to accommodate
packaging waste management and the concept of producer
responsibility expansion in December 2022.
ภาพที่่� 1 ตััวอย่่างผลิิตัภััณฑ์์ที่่�มี่การใช้้งาน PFAS • Hong Kong has announced amendments to food
Figure 1 Example of PFAS Utilization Products packaging laws to support recycling and waste management,
as well as environmental responsibility, effective December
2023, with provisions for plastic bag fees and implementing
Similarly, the toxicity of PFAS substances, chemicals, producer responsibility schemes for glass packaging starting
and other additives poses a significant concern for June 2023.
consumers. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, • Taiwan revised its health laws regarding certain
comprise a group of chemicals widely used in various consumer goods, containers, and food packaging in August
manufacturing industries (as shown in Figure 1). Despite 2023 and drafted legislation on polystyrene packaging in
their utility, these chemicals are known to be persistent and December 2021.
are dubbed “forever chemicals,” which means they can reside • India has set acceptance limits for the dispersion of
in the environment long after use, potentially contaminating lead and DEHP in food contact materials in August 2022.
water sources. Consequently, there is a risk of PFAS entering • China announced the enforcement of national
the human food chain. Following campaigns and the standards for paper, bamboo, and wood food contact
provision of risk and health impact information about PFAS materials in July 2022.
substances since 2020, most manufacturers of paper-based • As for Thailand, there have been updates to the
food packaging in the United States have voluntarily regulatory standards related to food contact paper materials
discontinued the distribution of materials coated with PFAS in April 2021 by the Ministry of Public Health (Version 435)
compounds. On February 28, 2024, the US FDA announced in June 2022. This includes a review of the criteria for
that food-contact paper with PFAS substances would no allowable chemical substances and their thresholds in food
longer placed on the market in the United States. contact materials, particularly plastic containers, and allows
As of March 2024, several U.S. states have enacted laws for the use of recycled plastics in materials that come into
to address the safety of chemicals and additives in food contact with food.
packaging. Six states —New York, California, Washington,
Colorado, Maryland, and Hawaii—have implemented
regulations specifically for fiber-based food contact materials.
Other states, including Vermont, Connecticut, Minnesota, More Information Service Info C009
Rhode Island, Oregon, and Maine, have enacted broader
laws encompassing all types of food contact materials, while
some states, such as Illinois and Massachusetts, are still เอกสารอ้างอิง / References
developing their legal frameworks in this area. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:
012:0001:0089:en:PDF
Changes in food packaging laws in Asia https://pmmi.docsend.com/view/bckpxme7bdchzw9g
The evolving regulations and rules surrounding food https://enviliance.com/products/food-contact-materials
packaging in the European Union (EU) and the United States https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2565/E/139/T_0011.
(US) have a ripple effect, influencing countries in Asia. To PDF
maintain smooth trade relations, many Asian countries are

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