Excess Packaging
What laws govern excessive packaging?
What are the main requirements?
What essential requirements applies to excessive packaging?
Who ensures compliance with these regulations within a business organisation?
How does the responsible person ensure compliance?
How long should the responsible person maintain this documentation?
How long does the responsible person have to supply this documentation to enforcement authorities?
How can I obtain further advice?
What laws govern excessive packaging?
The Packaging (Essential Requirements) Regulations 2003 (as amended).
What are the main requirements?
Anyone for packing or filling products into packaging or importing packed or filled packaging into the United Kingdom must not place that packaging on the market unless that packaging fulfils the essential requirements and is within the heavy metal concentration limits.
What essential requirements applies to excessive packaging?
Packaging volume and weight must be the minimum amount to maintain necessary levels of safety, hygiene and acceptance for the packed product and for the consumer.
Who ensures compliance with these regulations within a business organisation?
The obligation to ensure that these regulations are complied with lies with the “responsible person”. This is usually the packer/filler of the product or the importer of the packed product.
How does the responsible person ensure compliance?
The responsible person should demonstrate compliance by creating and maintaining the necessary technical documentation.
It is recommended that the criteria specified as essential requirements by the regulations, and the heavy metal limits, are addressed at the initial packaging design and review stages.
These stages should establish the minimum adequate volume and weight usable for the packaging without compromising its performance.
A list of the relevant performance criteria should be produced in order to identify which critical areas prevent further reductions in the quantity of materials used.
Examples of the performance criteria include:
Product protection, packaging manufacture process, packing / filling process, logistics (including transport, warehousing and handling), product presentation and marketing, consumer acceptance, product information and safety.
How long should the responsible person maintain this documentation?
The responsible person must be able to supply technical documentation for a period of up to four years from the date on which the packaging is placed on the market.
How long does the responsible person have to supply this documentation to enforcement authorities?
A request may be made at any time by an enforcement authority. The documentation must be produced within a maximum of 28 days of the enforcement authority making the request.
How can I obtain further advice?
Hampshire-based companies can contact the Safety and Standards Team at Hampshire Trading Standards Service – Tel. No: 01962 833620.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTi) has produced guidance notes which are available free of charge online at:
http://www.berr.gov.uk/sectors/sustainability/packaging/page29072.html
Businesses can also obtain free advice and consultancy from Envirowise, a government sponsored programme to assist industry in improving its environmental performance. Further details are available from their website: www.envirowise.gov.uk or by telephoning 0800 585794