Ahead of the Global Food Contact 2023 workshop, we spoke to workshop leader Ales Bartl, Partner at Keller & Heckman.

Q: You are speaking about EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability at this year’s workshop. Can you give us a snapshot of what delegates will hear?

I am excited to lead this workshop because this is such a critical time for food packaging. Anyone who attend the workshop will learn about the upcoming revision of EU chemicals legislation, as well as have an opportunity to discuss the impact on food packaging, one substance one assessment, suitable by design, polymer registration, recycled plastics, and more. We will also dive into questions such as, what are the main CSS challenges for food packaging? What should industry do to prepare and to make long-term business plans? What additional information, guidelines, test methods etc. should the EU provide in order to enable you to prepare for the challenges? I encourage delegates to come ready to discuss and ask their own questions as well.

Q: What do you see as the major developments that 2023 will bring regarding food contact regulation, testing and enforcement in general?

2023 is a big year regarding food contact regulation, testing and enforcement in the EU. The upcoming revisions of REACH and CLP, including the upcoming PFAS restriction, will significantly alter the risk assessment and marketability of raw chemicals and food contact materials. Chemical content, data requirements, and sustainability criteria will all be impacted.

Q: What are you most looking forward to hearing about and discussing with your fellow speakers and delegates at this year's workshop?

I am looking forward to the workshop being a robust discussion amongst the attendees. Together we will hear multiple perspectives by hearing from different industries. The workshop will provide a time for all of us to examine the main threats of the upcoming legislative initiatives, how to prepare for them, and how to efficiently defend our own interests.