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Summary:
The use of ink to both decorate packaging and relay information continues be become a more complex endeavor as various regulatory agencies respond to market demands, consumer concerns and scientific knowledge. � The FDA is the responsible agency for United States regulations but with the continued globalization of businesses, other regulations such as the Swiss Ordinance are impacting packaging technology. � The situation is also impacted by brand owners requirements beyond the regulatory landscape. � This paper deals with the evolution of the FDA and the current European situation relative to inks and coatings for food packaging applications.
Printing inks have decorated packages from the inception of the first container, where the first use simply may have been to identify the product contained therein. � Although many people realize the value that inks provide, a few decades ago a minimalist effort to reduce costs by packaging with very little printed color met with complete failure when consumers balked at purchasing a product that simply stated "corn flakes" or "cigarettes." Over the years, inks and coatings have taken on more complex roles to achieve decorative graphics and protective attributes that help sell the product, assist in packaging and shipping, pass on information both mandatory and market driven, and contribute to shelf life. � Today's inks must comply with a wide array of substrates, demanded finished properties, and an ever-growing list of local, state, federal and international laws regulating our environment, health, safety, transportation, consumer advocacy and product use, as well as responding to the needs and demands of brand owners.