East Midlands Euro-MP Backs Food Packaging that thinks for itself!

12.57.08pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 31st Mar 2004

New rules to provide for the use of 'active and intelligent' food packaging was agreed by MEPs in Strasbourg today.

The materials are designed to interact with food in order to maintain or improve its condition, for example by absorbing oxygen to slow the decay of meat. They could also allow flavourings or preservatives to be passed to the product.

But 'intelligent' packaging might also incorporate panels that change colour like litmus paper to warn consumers if food is no longer fit for consumption.

Euro-MPs are expected to support plans for new authorisation procedures intended to ensure that use of the packaging is only allowed after it is given the green light by scientists.

East Midlands Liberal Democrat MEP Bill Newton Dunn explained that the priority had to be to ensure that the packaging was completely safe.

He said: "The technology is developing very fast. Some of the packaging may prove very useful but we must have the procedures in place across Europe to ensure that harmful substances cannot pass into the food we eat."

EU rules on the hygiene and safety of materials that touch food, like plastic wrapping, have been in place since 1989. They require that substances should be safe and inert and keep to a minimum the possibility of materials migrating from the packaging. The rules now need to be revised to include safe but 'active' packaging.

The proposal is at its first reading stage in the European Parliament.