(D) - The German printing inks ordinance may face even longer delays than initially expected. Dr Sarah Theisen of Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co. KGaA said during the 21st VFV Lecture Event "Trends 2014 in the field of European Food Packaging", that European printing ink manufacturers expect the regulation to be applied in the first half of 2017. Currently, consultations on the 4th and last draft of the regulation are taking place between various German government departments with notification to the EU Commission following in May 2014 or after a three-month standstill period in August 2014, DrTheisen said. If any "substantial"comments are received from member states, the standstill period could be extended by another three months. Furthermore, a 60-day period will apply for WTO notification and a period of another two to three months for notification to the Bundesrat, the upper house of the German parliament. The regulation could finally be published in the Federal Law Gazette and potentially come into force in the first half of 2015. Since this will be followed by a transition period of two years, the application of the regulation would only be possible in the first half of 2017.
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