The recent creation of the National Registry of Food-Contact Packaging and its obligatory use.

By Ignacio Serratti

In mid May 2011 the National Registry of Food-Contact Packaging (RNE) will enter into effect, which means that all manufacturers, packers, distributors, representatives and importers are obliged to register their packaging materials intended to contain food.

During the first stage, local firms that are engaged in manufacturing food-contact packaging must have a registration attesting the quality and safety their packaging. At this stage, the food-contact packaging affected, by Decree 6115, will be those made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polypropylene (PP), both pure and combined in slices or other forms.

The food-contact packaging manufactured with materials which were not mentioned above, such as: plastics, cellulose, glass, ceramics, metal, paraffin, elastomeric and other unspecified, must be registered from May 2012.

Both, the National Food and Nutrition Institute (INAN) and the National Institute of Technology and Normalization (INTN) signed an agreement under which they will facilitate the implementation of all matters related to the RNE decree.

The registration process will include two stages. The first should be done before the INTN, which will take about 24 days and have an approximate cost of Guaranies 1,718,000 (U$ 380). Secondly, the INAN will take charge, an estimates time of processing will be 10 days and the approximate cost of Guaranies 1,600,000 (U$ 355). The costs involved in the procedure must be confirmed by the two entities.

The Registration will be valid for five years, and may be renewed for an equal period of time.

According to published information, the registration of food-contact packaging will be also required for imported products.