22/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - The new Council regulation on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food has been formally adopted. It repeals and updates Directives 80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC. The regulation gives a more modern interpretation of the principle whereby there should be no interaction between packing material and the foodstuffs contained therein, by authorising packaging known as "active" packaging because of its positive effect on the conservation or freshness of products. The regulation also brings in traceability requirements for packaging. The text was formally adopted by the Council without debate on 14 October.