Expert Focus: As Japan notifies the WTO, the sun rises on a new Positive List for plastic food packaging

摘要

Mark Thompson, a partner at law firm Keller and Heckman, examines Japan's plans for the new Positive List system for food-contact plastics. On 9 August, the government of Japan notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of its proposal for a new Positive List (PL) system for food-contact plastics. The Japanese authorities will accept nominations until 8 October for new and expanded clearances of polymers, monomers and additives used in "synthetic resins". This gives industry one last chance to seek formal clearances before the mandatory PL system is finalised.