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Packaging and health will be 2020 priorities

Food and drink manufacturers should expect tougher regulation on packaging and further calls to help tackle obesity in 2020, according to the sector body.

The predictions are made in the Food and Drink Industry report 2020, produced by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and Santander which highlights the growth opportunities and challenges for the sector for 2020.

Packaging is identified as key policy focus for the year ahead. The report says the UK food and drink manufacturing industry acknowledges that it shares a responsibility to do more to manage the negative impacts of packaging on the environment. It adds that FDF members are committed to working collaboratively to deliver a truly circular economy for food and drink packaging in the UK, but also require the UK governments to provide a cohesive policy framework and for consumers to recycle and dispose of their waste responsibly.

It says it is vital that government engages meaningfully with industry in developing the second stage of packaging consultation proposals and that these recognise the specificities of food and drink packaging including the legal constraints on using recycled content.

On health, the report notes that the pace of work on tackling obesity is accelerating by way of new products, reformulation, offering appropriate portion sizes, as well as using marketing to drive consumers towards these products.

It adds that voluntary action has resulted in large amounts of calories, salt, sugars and saturated fat being removed from the average shopping basket; but recognises that more needs to be done and calls on government to ensure a “genuinely holistic obesity strategy” is introduced and delivered, to target actions where they are needed most.

In his foreword to the report, which looks in particular at export opportunities in the developing markets of China, India Japan, UAE and USA, FDF chief executive Ian Wright touches on the subject of Brexit, writing that: “I fear our future trading relationship with the EU will continue to be overshadowed by uncertainty for a long time to come.”