US tariffs: impact on agri-food and packaging

Food product labeling represents one of the most important tools for ensuring transparency and trust between producers and consumers. The new MIMIT (Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy) guidelines, published on September 18, 2024, introduce significant updates on the quantitative ingredients declaration (QUID).   Food product labeling: what changes with the new MIMIT guidelines. These changes aim to make food ingredient communication clearer and more uniform, an essential aspect for both domestic and international markets. But what are the implications for companies in the food sector? And how can packaging help comply with these regulations? Let's find out.   See also: “Greenwashing: the new regulatory framework and the implications for packaging companies”   What changes with the new guidelines: the focus on QUID The new provisions of MIMIT focus on the mandatory nature of the quantitative ingredient declaration, known as QUID (Quantitative Ingredient Declaration). This element is key to informing consumers about the quantity of the main ingredients of a product and ensuring an informed choice. The QUID declaration is mandatory in three specific cases: When an ingredient is mentioned in the product name: for example, names like “chocolate biscuits” or “orange juice” require a clear indication of the percentage of chocolate or orange used. When an ingredient is highlighted on the label: through images, colors, or text like “with fresh milk” or “with butter”, it is necessary to specify the quantity of the highlighted ingredient. When an ingredient is essential to characterize the product or differentiate it: for instance, “cereal bread” must declare the percentage of cereals it contains. Why QUID matters QUID is not just a regulatory matter, but also an element of transparency that increases consumer trust toward the product and the company. Clear and precise information improves the shopping experience and allows a direct comparison between similar products.   Food categories involved and specific updates The guidelines do not just establish general rules, but introduce specific clarifications for different categories of food products: Prepackaged products: labeling must be legible, complete, and visibly positioned. Milk and fresh pasta filata cheeses: these products require additional information to ensure proper understanding of their characteristics by the consumer. Meats used as ingredients: special attention is dedicated to this category, with the aim of ensuring traceability and a clear distinction between similar products sold in different countries.   The value of the guidelines for the international market The new standards offer a competitive advantage to Italian companies exporting their products. Clear and uniform labeling facilitates sales in foreign markets, where similar regulations often govern the composition and presentation of products.   The role of packaging in food labeling Packaging is a crucial element to ensure compliance with the new guidelines. A label must not only be compliant, but it must integrate harmoniously with the packaging design, maintaining legibility and visual impact. Here is how packaging can support companies: Support for legible and visible labeling: boxes designed by Cart-One offer dedicated spaces for label application, ensuring they are clearly visible and easily readable by consumers. Enhancement of product aesthetics: with well-designed packaging, mandatory information can be presented in an orderly manner, without compromising overall aesthetics. Sustainable materials for green communication: besides complying with regulations, using recyclable or eco-friendly materials communicates the company's sustainability values, which are increasingly appreciated by consumers today.   How to adapt to the new MIMIT guidelines Companies in the food sector must consider these aspects to comply with the new regulations: Label design review: ensure that all mandatory information is present and easily readable. Packaging optimization: choose packaging that enhances the label and supports clear communication. Innovation through customization: integrate creative designs to stand out from the competition, without compromising compliance.   Cart-One as a partner for food labeling Cart-One offers tailor-made packaging solutions for the food industry, combining functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. Whether it is packaging for prepackaged products or boxes for milk and cheese, our solutions are designed to meet regulatory requirements and enhance your products.   Packaging as a tool for transparency and value The new MIMIT guidelines represent a step forward in the transparency and quality of food labeling. For companies, packaging is not just a support for labels, but a strategic element to strengthen consumer trust and stand out in the market.   With Cart-One, you can count on innovative, sustainable, and compliant packaging solutions that help you respect regulations and value your products.   Contact us to discover how we can support you on your path toward increasingly effective and competitive packaging.   Read also: “29th Comieco Report: paper and cardboard recycling in Italy, 2023 marks a new historic record”

From January 1, 2023, the mandatory packaging labeling enters into force, affecting not only producers but also distributors, importers, and retailers of products. Packaging labeling: mandatory since January 1, 2023. Environmental labeling consists of applying a specific label to all packaging placed on the Italian market, to facilitate its collection, reuse, recovery, and recycling, while providing information both on the packaging composition and on its correct disposal by the consumer.   Find out more: “The environmental label in packaging: what the Italian regulation says”   How the new packaging labeling works The new regulation on packaging labels was introduced to ensure a uniform level of consumer protection throughout the European Union (EU). Indeed, product labeling will provide consumers with more precise and comprehensive product information, ensuring greater transparency in the supply chain. Therefore, with the onset of the new year, from January 1, 2023, it is mandatory for all companies to label their products in compliance with the new European regulation on product safety.   Specifically, the decree establishes that «all packaging must be appropriately labeled, according to the procedures established by the applicable UNI standards, to facilitate the collection, reuse, recovery, and recycling of packaging, as well as to give correct information to consumers regarding the final destination of packaging».   The guidelines were adopted by Ministerial Decree no. 360 of September 28, 2022. From January 1, 2023, however, it is no longer possible to place packaging on the market that lacks environmental labeling. Conversely, packaging already on the market or labeled as of January 1, 2023, can be marketed until stocks are exhausted. Failure to comply with the eco-label will be penalized with a fine ranging from 5,000 to 25,000 euros. This document is the result of the work carried out by the Ministry together with the technical group of CONAI, the National Packaging Consortium.   What the new packaging regulation covers The new labeling requirement stipulates that all packaging on the national market must feature the alphanumeric code identifying the material used. If intended for household use, packaging must indicate, in addition to the type of material it consists of, the instructions for correctly disposing of it in separate waste collection. Specifically, the mandatory information to be applied on packaging aimed at the final consumer is as follows: the alphanumeric coding of the material; collection instructions, along with an invitation to check the provisions of one's own Municipality. To these, further optional but highly recommended information can be added: the type of packaging: bottle, flask, tray, label, and so forth; information to improve collection quality, such as flattening or rinsing the package before throwing it away, or removing the label.   Regarding multi-component packaging, components that cannot be separated manually must be distinguished from those that can be separated, indicating for each the composition material code and separate collection methods. For packaging related to the industrial or commercial sector, such as for display, logistics, and transport activities, packaging may omit collection information but must mandatorily report the alphanumeric code of the material in use. Producers and distributors can also choose to communicate information regarding product composition and disposal via digital media, for example: scanning QR codes; via apps; visiting websites.   Furthermore, each label has its own color: blue for paper, brown for organic waste, yellow for plastic, turquoise for metals, green for glass, and gray for unsorted waste.   In conclusion, product labeling must be clear, legible, and understandable to all consumers. The mandatory labeling of products represents an important step in consumer protection throughout the UE, as it will provide consumers with clear and precise information about the products they purchase, ensuring greater transparency in the supply chain and protecting their health and safety.   Read also: “Recycled and recyclable paper: the differences between the two processes”

As of January 1st, 2022, all changes regarding the environmental contribution approved by the CONAI Board of Directors have come into effect, featuring a further reduction of the environmental contribution (CAC) for paper and cardboard packaging and for almost all plastic packaging.  This reduction, adding to those already established in 2021, is essentially linked to the prices of packaging raw materials, which continue to remain extremely high.   Reduction of the environmental contribution for paper and cardboard packaging  The CAC value for this type of packaging drops from €25/ton to €10/ton.  Considering that just at the beginning of 2021 the value stood at €55/ton, the overall reduction amounts to over 80%.   It should be noted, however, that the decrease in the environmental contribution will not affect the separate collection and recycling of paper and cardboard. In fact, COMIECO will continue to guarantee the startup of recycling operations for approximately 2.5 million tons, which has made it possible to achieve 87% recycling of cellulose-based packaging, a full 10 years ahead of European targets.  On the other hand, the values of the extra CAC applicable to the following remain unchanged:   Paper-based multi-material packaging, suitable for containing liquids, whose values amount to €30/ton;  Type C packaging (consisting of a cellulose component equal to or greater than 60% and less than 80%), whose values correspond to €120/ton  Type D packaging (with a cellulose component less than 60% or not specified), whose overall values correspond to €250/ton.  Reduction of the CAC for plastic packaging  The CAC has seen a reduction for nearly all packaging made of plastic materials.  In detail, the contribution for plastic packaging belonging to:  Band A1 (rigid and flexible packaging characterized by an efficient and consolidated sorting and recycling industrial chain, mostly managed within commercial and industrial circuits) is reduced from 150 to €104/ton.  Band B1 (packaging characterized by an effective and consolidated sorting and recycling industrial chain, mainly from the domestic circuit) is reduced from 208 to €149/ton.  Band B2 (other sortable/recyclable packaging from domestic and/or commercial and industrial circuits) goes from 560 to €520/ton.  Band C (packaging with experimental sorting/recycling activities underway or not sortable/recyclable with current technologies) from 660 to €642/ton.  Until June 30th, 2022, the contribution for packaging belonging to band A2 (flexible packaging with an effective and consolidated sorting and recycling industrial chain, predominantly from commercial and industrial circuits but significantly present in urban separate collection) will remain unchanged at €150/ton. Starting from July 1st, 2022, in conjunction with the higher costs of initiating recycling, the CAC value will increase to €168/ton.  Simplified procedures for imports  These reductions have also had an impact on the flat-rate/simplified procedures for importing filled packaging.  The rates to be applied to the overall value of imports are reduced from 0.20 to 0.17% for packaged food products and from 0.10 to 0.08% for packaged non-food products.  The contribution through the flat-rate calculation on the weight of packaging alone (tare) of imported goods drops from 101 to €90/ton.  To explore this topic further, you can consult the 2022 CONAI Environmental Contribution Guide.