Page 47 - FINAT Yearbook 2014

Some items currently on the agenda of the NAB:
• Assessment of the harmonised raw materials indicators developed by AWA Alexander Watson Associates on the
initiatives of the Swedish label association;
• Translation and European adoption of the basic chapters of
the Occupational Health and Safety guideline developed by VskE together with the German local sector organisation for the paper and printing industry BG;
• Harmonisation of GMP Guidelines for food labels. In the absence of harmonised European legislation for paper based packaging, and in view of growing product safety concerns across Europe, associations have developed or are developing their own product safety ‘good manufacturing practice’ (GMP) guides. Most far reaching of them is the
BPIF Labels (UK) who have modeled their GMP Guide after the one developed by the European Carton Makers Association. A meeting has been planned in the autumn of 2014 between FINAT’s Regulatory Affairs subcommittee and national association representatives to assess the need for a harmonised European food labels GMP guide.
• FINAT and national associations have been invited by ISO to join in the work of ISO/TC122 WG 14 ‘Specifications for labels’ which has been established on the initiative of two major Swedish end-users to establish a harmonised checklist for the procurement of labels. Several associations (including FINAT!) have joined the national mirror working groups to make sure that the interests of the principal stakeholders concerned (the label manufacturers) are taken into account.
In general, in its present format the NAB meetings have contributed to a better mutual understanding and positioning of FINAT and the national associations across Europe
(see also the article about FINAT’s strategy on page 14).
L9: LABEL PROMOTION AND GLOBAL POSITIONING LABEL INDUSTRY
Whereas discussions on the European scale inside the NAB focus on tactical and operational collaboration and information exchange, the L9 platform meetings address issues of a more global nature. In view of the regional diversity of languages, cultures, political landscape, business development cycles, market maturity etc, by nature the areas of common interest are more restricted to a limited number of ‘high level‘ issues such as industry positioning, promotion of label solutions and management development:
• Thanks to the efforts of the L9, the World Label Awards have now been restructured into 22 categories, of which annually 5 prestigious Best of the Best winners are presented at Labelexpo, one for each major printing technology.
• Sustainability is not a matter of national or even regional borders and therefore a lot of energy of the L9 meetings has been dedicated to the exchange of best practices in areas like sustainability measurements and recycling solutions. Following the L9 meeting in Japan of 2012, efforts have been on-going to provide substance to the global label industry’s
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FINAT YEARBOOK 2014 |