Testing food packaging is a vital step toward ensuring food safety and hygiene: exec

Packaging types that come into direct contact with food are at risk of becoming contaminated with dangerous compounds which are potentially harmful to human health, said Devender Singh, global innovation & technical development leader of food testing company Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang Company Limited.

Singh made the comment at a workshop themed "Food Packaging: Quality Control and Capturing Trends", which was hosted by Ho Chi Minh City’s Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) on Tuesday. According to him, testing food packaging is a vital step toward ensuring food safety and hygiene, as well as compliance with regulatory laws.

"Furthermore, each market may have distinct restrictions on standards, quality, or various packing materials, so export enterprises must gather information ahead of time to efficiently penetrate and minimize hazards," he added.

Ho Thi Quyen, deputy director of the ITPC, stated that green growth is a new trend in the economic development of countries around the world. It is an important component of sustainable development since it ensures successful and long-term economic development while simultaneously contributing significantly to climate change mitigation. As a result, green packaging is becoming a top priority for governments and stakeholders, serving as a crucial link in the circular economy.

The Draft National Action Plan for Circular Economy (NAPCE) also cites packaging as a priority area for implementing the circular economy, particularly packaging used in food and beverage processing and chemical manufacturing, Quyen said.

Quyen stated that when choosing packaging materials for beverage items, firms must examine how to assure product quality, environmental friendliness, and recyclability. They must also engage extensively in research and development, innovate production technology, use green and renewable materials, and implement a variety of packaging production options. Businesses must commit resources, time, and effort to increase their human resource qualifications.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Vi, head of the consulting department at Eurofins Sac Ky Hai Dang Company Limited, explained that packaging is a phase in the process of producing completed products for distribution to consumers. Packaging requirements for food goods requires certain qualities to maintain food hygiene and safety standards, as well as the recording of all relevant consumer information. In fact, several items are cautioned and recalled each year due to the migration of substances from packaging to food, such as bisphenol A, PFAS, and mineral oil.

The EU, one of Vietnam's major export destinations, has passed a new packaging bill to reduce packaging waste. According to this measure, by 2026, the EU will restrict the release to the market of packaging containing persistent chemicals (PFAS). By 2029, the EU plans to collect at least 90% of plastic bottles and cans. In addition, the EU will prohibit single-use plastic packaging in the food and beverage industries beginning in 2030. According to this roadmap, enterprises exporting food items to the EU have only five years to transition to more environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging.

Pham Thi My Duyen, a representative of Minh Phat Production and Services Co., Ltd, which focuses on packing production, stated that businesses are looking to use recycled packaging in line with the green economy, circular economy, and sustainable development trends. Packaging created from natural, food-safe, and environmentally friendly materials is becoming more widespread. However, the move from plastic packaging to green packaging has a long road ahead.