Regulatory Watch: Beverage and PET Bottle Makers Discuss Food-Plastic Packaging License Rules in Beijing

To support the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ) in advancing market access for food-use plastic packaging containers and to respond to feedback from beverage companies, the Technical Working Committee of the China Beverage Industry Association recently held a symposium in Beijing. Nearly 20 representatives from beverage producers, PET bottle manufacturers and related sectors attended to exchange views on the Detailed Rules for the Review of Production Licenses for Food-Use Plastic Packaging, Containers and Work Products and on practical issues encountered during applications.

Senior Engineer Yu Wei and Guo Xiangdan, who handle this work at the Food Production Supervision Department of AQSIQ, and Dr. Wang Zhaohui, who is responsible for drafting the rules at the National Professional Committee for Market Access of Food-Use Plastic Packaging Container Work, attended to provide guidance. Zhao Yali, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Beverage Industry Association, chaired the meeting. Beverage companies such as Coca-Cola, Wahaha, Huiyuan, Robust, Nongfu Spring, Nestlé, Master Kong, Jinmailang and Yunnan Dashan, along with packaging companies including Zhuhai Zhongfu and Shanghai Zijiang, took part. Secretary-General Zhao noted that packaging containers are a critical part of food safety, and the beverage sector actively supports government quality supervision of packaging containers.

PET bottle packaging accounts for 80% of total beverage output. Because PET bottle production and supply take several forms within the beverage industry and bottle specifications vary widely, the Detailed Rules and their implementation carry major implications for beverage manufacturers. The meeting aimed to let companies raise issues relevant to their operations and the wider industry. The government has taken a serious, responsible and development-oriented approach to this work, and industry associations and enterprises are expected to cooperate actively.

Enterprise representatives agreed unanimously on the importance of the Detailed Rules and offered specific comments and suggestions. Given the multiple production models for beverage PET bottles—in-line production, purchased preforms or purchased bottles—the outdated nature of existing PET plastic bottle standards, and the fact that beverages involve three license numbers for the cap, bottle body and contents, the discussion focused on several points: review items and indicators should center on food safety; on-site verification methods and certification units should differentiate in-line beverage producers from container producers; how to determine vertical compression resistance and drop performance values for PET plastic bottles; and issues such as 'QS' marking, required factory inspection equipment and the list of testing institutions.

Yu Wei said the market access system for packaging containers is designed to regulate enterprises appropriately, and the Detailed Rules will not remain static. Both AQSIQ and she personally welcome constructive and positive suggestions from all parts of society. She noted that the beverage association's approach—bringing enterprises together to submit opinions and suggestions in an organized and systematic way—is the first of its kind among industries and should produce good results. She hoped such voices would continue and that associations and enterprises would help the government keep improving this work.

At the close of the meeting, Senior Engineer Wang Zhaohui highlighted the Detailed Rules' dynamic adjustment feature and welcomed enterprises to actively submit revision comments and suggestions.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn); original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-362328.html