Academy workshops

16.02.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +2)

EUROPEAN COMPLIANCE FOR PLASTIC  PACKAGING

Technical expertise in EU food contact legislation for plastics (EU/10/2011). Most usual mistakes and tips to better understand the legislation.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, plastic materials for food contact will be discussed in detail. Plastics are regulated with specific legislation (EC) 10/2011. This legislation is a positive list of substances for manufacturing of plastic materials in contact with food. It also contains detailed information for overall and specific migration testing and important notes for Declaration of Compliance (DoC) documents which needs to be shared throughout the whole packaging production chain.

Questions to be answered:

• What is the relevant legislation for plastic materials in European Union (EU)?

• What are the main points to consider each time a plastic material is produced?

• Who is responsible for the final product and what are the obligations according to relevant legislation?

• How can I test the compliance of my plastic food contact materials?

Benefits for participants:

• Advanced knowledge on plastic FCM in the European Union

• Safer product for the company and the final consumer

• Easier handling of plastic legislation

• Proper preparation of food contact material analysis

27.02.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +2)

OVERALL MIGRATION ANALYSIS (LIVE)

Overall migration details, tips and tricks for compliance. Live broadcasting from laboratory analysis.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, we will discuss overall migration analysis according to legislation (EC) 10/2011 and method EN 1186-1. This analysis is a prerequisite for placing a plastic material in contact with food products but the test can be used for other materials as well (e.g. paper, metal packaging). Details on simulants and contact conditions will be given.

Live broadcasting of an actual overall migration analysis in the laboratory will be shown, to provide better understanding of the procedure

Questions to be answered:

• What is overall migration analysis and why is it important?

• How is it performed and what are the limits according to legislation?

• How can I avoid mistakes in the laboratory if I need to test for overall migration?

• What conditions and simulants should I choose for my product?

Benefits for participants:

• Advanced knowledge on overall migration testing process

• Better understanding of the method and proper compliance for the final products

• Easier communication with partner laboratories

12.03.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +2)

SPECIFIC MIGRATION ANALYSIS (LIVE)

Specific migration details, tips and tricks for compliance. Surface to volume ratio details. Live broadcasting from laboratory analysis.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, we will discuss specific migration analysis according to legislation (EC) 10/2011 and method EN 13130-1. This analysis is a prerequisite for placing a plastic material in contact with food products but the test can be used for other materials as well (e.g. paper, metal packaging).

Live broadcasting of an actual specific migration analysis of metals (included in Annex 2 of 10/2011) in the laboratory will be shown, to provide better understanding of the procedure

Questions to be answered:

• What is specific migration analysis and why is it important?

• How is it performed and what are the limits according to legislation?

• Why is it important to always check on surface to volume ratio before performing a test?

• How can I minimize specific migration testing procedures for my materials?

Benefits for the participants:

• Advanced knowledge on specific migration testing process

• Better understanding of the method and proper compliance for the final products

• Easier communication with partner laboratories

28.03.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +2)

PAPER PACKAGING COMPLIANCE

In depth knowledge on paper material in contact with food. Focus on Greek, Italian and German (BfR) legislation. CEPI guidelines.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, paper in contact with food will be discussed. As no harmonized legislation exists for paper materials in the European Union, users of paper need to comply with several national legislations, according to the sale market of the material. Three main national legislations will be studied (German, Italian, Greek). Furthermore, CEPI guidelines will be mentioned, which are the most commonly used guidelines in Europe for paper compliance.

Questions to be answered:

• What analysis should I perform for my paper packaging, which will be in contact with food products?

• How should I handle legislation for paper materials of a different country?

• What should I do if I print and apply adhesive on the paper material?

• Why is it important to be aware for the rules applied to other countries?

Benefits for the participants:

• Advanced knowledge on paper materials in contact with food

• Better understanding of paper materials and their uses according to their type

• Easier communication with suppliers and customers

09.04.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

DECLARATION OF COMPLIANCE (DOC)

Advanced knowledge on declaration of compliance. Most common mistakes and traps to avoid from suppliers.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

Declaration of compliance (DoC) for food contact materials is an essential document, according to relevant legislation (EC) 1935/2004 and (EC) 10/2011. These documents can be challenging to issue when there is not enough information available (e.g. from suppliers). In this workshop, a detailed discussion on DoCs will take place, in order to ensure that there will be no information missing from supplier’s or own documentation at the packaging supply chain. Focus will be given at specific details usually omitted from DoCs in the market and how to avoid usual tricks.

Questions to be answered:

• What is a DoC and what is it used for?

• What details should I ask my suppliers to include in their DoCs?

• What should I include in my DoC for the customers?

• Why is it important to back up my DoC with supporting documents?

Benefits for the participants:

• Advanced knowledge on declaration of compliance for food contact materials

• Better communication with suppliers

• Expansion to demanding customers and markets

25.04.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

RECENT AND FUTURE TRENDS IN EU LEGISLATION FOR PLASTICS

PFAS, BPA, Phthalates, NIAS and anything new to the plastic food contact legislation EU/10/2011.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

Plastics legislation (EC) 10/2011 is amended every second year. Each amendment contains new substances in the positive list or limit changes of the existing ones. The subject of this workshop will be to check and discuss the latest changes in legislation and also study the changes expected in the near future.

Questions to be answered:

• What are the recent changes in legislation 10/2011 and how are they affecting my materials?

• What limits should be respected according to these changes?

• How can I prepare for the future changes and what should I expect?

Benefits for the participants

• Focus on recent changes of legislation and how to comply

• Expansion to demanding customers, with well-organized regulatory departments

• Be in-line with future legislation

21.05.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

INKS, LACQUERS AND ADHESIVES IN FOOD PACKAGING

EUPIA and FEICA guidelines. Swiss legislation on inks and lacquers. Points to consider.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, we will discuss on some of the non-harmonized components of food contact materials. These are inks, lacquer and adhesives. Details on how to provide compliance of such materials with food contact legislation will be provided. Technical guidelines of EUPIA and FEICA will be studied and relevant national legislations (e.g. Swiss ordinance) will be mentioned.

Questions to be answered:

• What should I do for non-harmonized component (e.g. inks and adhesives) to provide compliance for my material?

• What limits should be respected according to the relevant guidelines and legislation?

• What details should I ask from my ink or adhesive supplier?

• Are there common requests in the market for the aforementioned materials?

Benefits for the participants

• Advanced understanding on compliance of inks, adhesives and lacquers

• Clearing communication with suppliers and customers for the aforementioned components

• Easier handling of relevant legislation and guidelines

13.06.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

FOOD CONTACT COMPLIANCE AND RECYCLABILITY

Recycled plastic materials in contact with food products. New legislations EU/1616/2020 and PPWR and points to consider.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, we will provide advanced knowledge on recyclable and recycled food contact materials. New legislation (EC) 1616/2020 and the upcoming PPWR regulation regarding packaging waste will be studied. Focus on food contact materials deriving from recycling will be given

Questions to be answered:

• What information should I ask from my supplier who provides a recycled raw material to our company?

• What should I do if I want to provide compliance for food contact on a recycled packaging material?

• Are there any tips and tricks to consider for recyclable and recycled materials in contact with food?

Benefits for the participants

• Advanced knowledge on recycled materials in contact with food

• Better communication with suppliers and customers

• Easier handling of relevant legislation

25.06.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

PLASTIC FOOD CONTACT LEGISLATION IN USA AND UK

Current legislation for food contact plastic materials in USA and UK.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, we will focus on food contact legislation for plastic materials in USA and UK. USA uses the well-known CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 legislation, which will be studied in detail for plastic food contact materials. UK currently uses the European (EC) 10/2011 legislation for plastic materials in contact with food but is preparing its own legislation on this field, which is expected to differ in specific points to the European.

Questions to be answered:

• What should I do if I produce or export my packaging materials in the US or the UK?

• Are there differences between the above and the European legislation?

• What should I ask from my suppliers regarding DoCs of raw materials in this case?

Benefits for the participants

• Advanced knowledge on US and UK legislation for food contact materials

• Easier communication for materials intended for these countries

• Proper preparation for future legislation

09.07.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

GLOBAL PLASTIC FOOD CONTACT LEGISLATION

Current legislation for food contact plastic materials in various countries across the globe (China, Mercosur and other).

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

In this workshop, we will focus on food contact legislation in some countries out of the European Union. We will discuss on legislations of China and Mercosur countries, which are quite different in some points compared to EU legislation.

Questions to be answered:

• What should I do if I export my packaging materials in China or a Mercosur country?

• Are there differences between the above and the European legislation?

• What should I ask from my suppliers regarding DoCs of raw materials in this case?

Benefits for the participants

• Advanced knowledge on Chinese and Mercosur legislation for food contact materials

• Easier communication for materials intended for these countries

• Proper preparation for future legislation

23.07.24

11:00 – 13:00 (UTC +3)

NIAS ASSESSMENT

Extensive knowledge on non-intentionally added substances. Type of analysis and assessment procedure.

Speaker:

Theodoros Paraskevopoulos

Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) are substances that are not added in any of the production process but are still existent as part of chemical reactions or byproducts. These substances are required to be studied in plastic materials according to (EC) 10/2011. In this workshop, we will discuss on the most usual type of NIAS analysis and the substances occurred from analysis and how to handle these whenever they appear. We will also mention the most important things to consider when performing toxicological assessment of NIAS.

Questions to be answered:

• What is a NIAS assessment and why should I perform it in my material?

• What are the difficulties when I need to perform NIAS analysis?

• What are the most common practices for NIAS assessment in the market?

Benefits for the participants

• Advanced study of the compliance of food contact materials

• Better understanding on the NIAS assessment and how it is performed by the laboratories

• Expansion to demanding customers, with well-organized regulatory departments