A new European Union regulation on reusable packaging, which came into force earlier this year, may soon lead to the end of single-use foam plastic boxes used to send fresh fish from Iceland to the European market. About nine million such boxes are mentioned in discussions, so the change could have significant effects on Icelandic seafood exports, according to reporting by RÚV.
It is not yet clear how the EU’s new requirement on reuse will be applied to foam plastic boxes, or what timeline producers and exporters must follow. The issue has been raised directly with the European Commission, but clarity on how Icelandic exporters should adapt is still being sought, RÚV said.
According to details cited in the article, about nine million single-use foam boxes are involved. However, it is not clear whether this figure refers to the boxes used annually in Iceland, the number exported each year, or another measure.
RÚV was first to report on the possible impact of the EU’s new regulation for Icelandic fish exports. This development has prompted questions within the industry about future packaging requirements and potential alternatives to foam plastic for shipping fresh produce to Europe.
Sources
- RÚV (first reported) in Icelandic
