European food and beverage packaging companies have called on EU authorities to prevent packaging imports from China and other countries that do not meet EU standards. CEOs of European food and beverage service and convenience packaging manufacturers met EU officials and representatives of national market surveillance organisations in Brussels in November to discuss the problem.

Pack2Go Europe (Brussels; www.pack2go-europe.com), a European association representing major foodservice packaging manufacturers, said a survey conducted last month showed some 70% of its members were suffering from unfair competition due to cheaper imports. “The problem is double standards are being applied because national market surveillance organisations and customs services don’t adequately check imports from outside the EU,” said Tony Waters of foodservice manufacturer Solo Cup Europe and outgoing president of Pack2Go Europe.

“It’s all very well to keep piling regulatory demands onto packaging made in Europe, but if we don’t demand the same of imports, then consumers are not protected,” said Jan Schuermann of packaging manufacturer SwissPrimePack (Altstätten / Switzerland; www.swissprimepack.com) and the new head of Pack2Go Europe. “We want the control authorities to put this issue on their priority list.”