Global packaging standard to enhance food safety

The British Standards Institution, BSI, has launched a new standard to streamline food safety systems between food manufacturers and the packaging they use for their products.

PAS 223—Prerequisite programmes and design requirements for food safety in the manufacture and provision of food packaging—provides a common international methodology for developing a prerequisite program for food and drink packaging safety. PAS 223 aims to bring consistency across global packaging industry practices. It could also potentially reduce tendering costs for packaging manufacturers who adhere to it and as help align packaging activities more closely with their clients' requirements.

The development of this PAS was sponsored by SSAFE (Safe Supply of Affordable Food Everywhere), with a Steering Group, consisting of leading global packaging and food manufacturing companies. The broad international consensus and buy-in from packaging manufacturers includes Alpla, Amcor, Owens-Illinois, Rexam and Tetra Pak and recognised household names in food manufacturing such as the Coca-Cola Co., Danone, Nestlé, Kraft Foods and Unilever.

Developed by industry for industry, the new standard will be of particular interest to food and drink packaging manufacturers across the world, as well as food certification bodies and public authorities.

"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," says Mike Low, director of British Standards.

"We recognise the need for an ‘end-to-end supply chain approach' for food safety," says Neil Marshall, director, global quality and food safety with The Coca-Cola Co. and the project lead for the PAS 223. "It is vitally important that packaging risks are managed and mitigated using the same science-based approach we use for ingredients and manufacturing processes."

Against a global backdrop of recent food scares in countries such as Germany and China, many organisations are looking to ISO 22000, the global food safety management system, to manage their food risks. PAS 223 is aligned with, and supports the implementation of ISO 22000, by setting out specific requirements for the development and implementation of prerequisite programs in the manufacture of food and drink packaging. The PAS is also in line with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)'s new guidance for food packaging certification.

"PAS 223 is yet another step in right direction to help the food industry implement ISO 22000," Low says.

Source: British Standards Institution