German industry associations from the packaging sector have called on the German government to take measures to maintain security of supply.
The associations demand, Transport and sales packaging (made of paper / cardboard and plastic) and their raw materials and intermediate products for food and pharmaceutical products as „Integral components and system-relevant products in the context of measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic“ to be classified.
The Supply chains for transport and sales packaging for food and pharmaceutical products should be protected and from the restrictions in connection with measures in the cross-border movement of goods be excluded. At national borders, appropriate measures and processes should be for priority processing of such products („Priority / Green Lanes“). In the case of Curfews would require exemptions for the employees of manufacturers and suppliers.
Supply chains must be maintained
The Security of supply for the population with food and pharmaceutical products is systemically relevant in the current corona crisis. Maintaining the supply chains for food and pharmaceutical products is therefore Essential for overcoming the crisis and must not be jeopardised by other measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic. In the supply chain for food and pharmaceutical products enable transport and sales packaging, that these goods available to the end consumer and maximising durability is guaranteed.
With the Raw materials and intermediate products for the production of packaging are essentially Paper and cardboard, plastics and adhesives as well as printing inks and varnishes, which must be used for printing on the packaging to provide information about the contents of the packaging and the use of the product. The packaging is therefore a integral part the security of supply for the population.
This expectation of the sectors is in line with the anal requirement of the Employers' Association for Food and Drink (ANG), the Federation of German Food and Drink Industries (BVE) and the German Food Association (Lebensmittelverband Deutschland) „Coronavirus outbreak - impact on the German food industry and demands to maintain production“ to the federal government.
Priority transport in cross-border goods traffic
The reinforced Introduction of national border controls in the Schengen area as part of the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe is hindering or preventing the effective supply of raw materials and intermediate products for the production of transport and sales packaging. It has been reported from several European countries that Logistics company limits due to the long delays refrain from accepting cross-border orders. Employees of logistics companies are already refusing to travel to areas with high restrictions. This is based on the Care in such a case in these regions under precautionary quarantine and not being allowed to return.
The Associations are therefore appealing to the political institutions, protect the supply chains of transport and sales packaging and the materials used to produce them and to exempt them from the restrictions associated with Measures for the cross-border movement of goods to be excluded.
European associations appeal to the EU Commission
We expressly welcome and support the measures announced by the EU, which help to ensure that essential systemically relevant products are Priority promotion corresponding goods in pan-European trade to make this possible.
This Appeal to the national political institutions goes hand in hand with an analogue Initiative of the European paper and board production and processing associations, which is characterised by a „Statement from the European paper and board converting industry“ to the EU Commission with regard to their current „Guidelines for Border Management“ (Annex).
Signatory organisationsFachverband Faltschachtel-Industrie e.V. (FFI), Fachverband Kartonverpackungen für flüssige Nahrungsmittel e.V. (FKN), Fachvereinigung Hartpapierwaren und Rundgefäße e.V. (FHR), Gemeinschaft Papiersackindustrie e.V. (GemPSI), Hauptverband Papier- und Kunststoffverarbeitung e.V. (HPV), Industrieverband Papier- und Folienverpackung e.V. (IPV), Industrievereinigung Kunststoffverpackungen e.V. (IK), Verband der deutschen Lack- und Druckfarbenindustrie e.V. (VdL), Verband der Hersteller selbstklebender Etiketten und Schmalbahnconverter e.V. (VskE), Verband der Wellpappen-Industrie e.V. (VDW), Verband Deutscher Papierfabriken e.V. (VDP), Verband Vollpappe-Kartonagen e.V. (VVK), Vereinigung der Arbeitgeberverbände der Deutschen Papierindustrie e. V. (VAP) and Wirtschaftsverband Papierverarbeitung e.V. (WPV).
Source: HPV
