Meeting the Challenge
By Peter Schottland

As chairman of the Flexible Packaging Association Board of Directors, I have the opportunity to view every aspect of the association. This rare look into the FPA provides a backstage pass into the daily activities that are performed by the association.

In addition to the more visible FPA activities such as the highly respected industry reports that the association produces, FPA also acts as the “watchdog” for the industry in the area of government relations. For several months FPA has been working on several government-related activities, which include the efforts to restore the Food Contact Notification Program and retain detailed flexible packaging industry reporting within the U.S. Census Bureau’s Economic Census of Manufacturers.

Food Contact Notification Program

FPA, together with the Food Packaging Industry Coalition, has made exceptional progress in the efforts to retain the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Food Contact Notification Program, which was eliminated by Bush administration budget cuts. The current FCN Program reduces the time required for approval on new food packaging materials to four months, where as the previous approval timeline was three to five years.

After lobbying by FPA and the Food Packaging Industry Coalition, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to restore funding and continue the FCN Program. The coalition is continuing is efforts now to ensure a Senate vote to reinstate the program.

2007 Economic Census

The U.S. Census Bureau’s proposed changes to the 2007 Economic Census covering the flexible packaging industry would have eliminated valuable reporting detail that FPA members and the industry have come to rely upon.

Several meetings between the U.S. Census Bureau and the FPA have resulted in enhanced flexible packaging information for the industry. Under proposed changes, much of this detail would have been lost.

The changes that were proposed come at a time when imports from foreign countries continue to weaken the domestic manufacturing industry, and detailed reporting of U.S. flexible packaging industry economic data is very important. Modifications to the 2007 Economic Census also threaten to eliminate information that assists in defining the value-added segment of flexible packaging, and significant industry data that is available once every five years through the economic census and the Annual Survey of Manufactures.

In response to this proposal, FPA submitted written comments encouraging the U.S. Census Bureau to retain the current level of detailed reporting. The association’s relationship and credibility were instrumental in revising this proposal; and indications are that the current reporting detail will continue within the 2007 economic census.  

To further assist the FPA in monitoring these, and other industry issues and topics, the association will establish issue-specific task groups that will enhance the association’s abilities to respond to various matters and keep FPA members informed of current  developments. To learn more about FPA and its activities, visit FPA at www.flexpack.org, or contact the association at (410) 694-0800.