Under the proposals, processors would have to apply for authorisation to use recycled plastics

Under the proposals, processors would have to apply for authorisation to use recycled plastics

European proposals could force packaging processors to apply for authorisation to use recycled plastics. The EC is consulting the plastics industry with plans to set a standard for recycled food contact plastics. Under the proposals, processors would have to apply for authorisation to use particular processes to recycle food contact plastics back into food contact products.

The commission said it wanted to protect the public from unsafe contaminants in recycled plastic. It added there is currently no harmonised system in place across the EU for regulating the recycling of food contact plastics.

The proposals do not stretch to chemical recycling, since the commission said the recyclate should not be treated differently from monomers made by chemical synthesis. Production scrap and off-cuts are also exempt, provided they have not been taken off-site or printed.

The commission proposes that products will be labelled if they contain more than 5% recycled materials. It also wants to see greater traceability at all stages of manufacture, processing and distribution. It plans to ban imports of food contact plastics that do not comply with its proposals.