Global legislation for active and intelligent packaging materials

Active and intelligent packaging materials were introduced in the market in the 1970s; these started in Japan and slowly gained ground in other regions over the years. One of the aspects that have blocked a faster market penetration in Europe was the lack of an appropriate regulatory regime. Such regulatory block has only been removed in 2009, with the issuing of Regulation (EC) No. 450/2009. In the United States, conversely, these materials have been framed within the existing system under the Code of Federal Regulations, and no specific regulations have been developed. Also, there are no regulations in other regions.