New EU regulation aspects and global market of active and intelligent packaging for food industry applications

Active and intelligent packaging is based on a deliberate interaction of the packaging with the food and/or its direct environment to improve food quality and safety. Such technology includes advances in delayed oxidation and controlled respiration rate, microbial growth, and moisture migration. Other examples are carbon dioxide absorbers/emitters, odour absorbers, ethylene removers and aroma emitters, while intelligent packaging include time-temperature indicators, ripeness indicators, biosensors and radio frequency identification. Until 2004 in Europe there was a legislative lack for these kind of packaging decreasing their penetration in the EU market. To face the problem Regulation 1935/2004/EC and more specifically Regulation 450/2009/EC set new legal basis for their correct use, safety and marketing. Nevertheless, due to its deliberate interaction with the food and/or its environment, the migration of substances could represent a food safety concern.