Retailers in the UK are spearheading the drive towards certification against the Standard for Food Packaging Materials, a recent Efsis survey revealed.

More than 90 per cent of respondents named retailers as the major influence for their adoption of the standard.

Sainsbury's packaging development manager, Terry Robins, was heavily involved in the development of the standard and welcomed the results. He said: 'It is imperative the packaging industry operates to one standard, offering manufacturers and retailers the assurance that quality systems and hygiene standards are in place and running to optimum efficiency, giving them the due diligence required.' The research also revealed that 64 per cent of respondents were confident they would be accredited in the next 12 months.

Efsis business development manager, Paul Ruocco, said: 'Our vision a year ago was to be a significant accreditation body in the global packaging industry within five years. With business established in the UK as well as United Arab Emirates, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden, we consider we are already a global player.' The standard, which was designed to become the benchmark by which evaluations are undertaken, was launched in September 2001 by the British Retail Consortium and the Institute of Packaging.

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