February 9, 2024

Exporting Sake and Wagyu Beef to Europe may Become Difficult Due to EU Packaging Material Regulations

The European Union is considering new regulations for food packaging. If realized, this could make exporting sake and wagyu beef in the region difficult. The Japanese government will step up its efforts to have them removed from the list.

The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament will hold a final round of talks on food packaging rules on March 4. If a broad agreement is reached, it will go into effect in 2030, subject to final approval by both organizations.

One of the focal points is the treatment of sake. The proposal by the executive body, the European Commission, would require operators producing and selling alcohol in the EU region to use reusable or refillable containers in 10% of their products after 2030. Sake has a different bottle shape than wine, making it difficult to reuse in Europe. Switching to paper cartons or wine bottles could increase the burden on breweries and other companies.

The regulation also applies to foods such as scallops and wagyu beef, which are frequently exported to the EU. The EU intends to mandate the use of recyclable materials for packaging.

Japanese food products are mostly made of "multilayer film," in which different resins are melted and layered on each other. This film has excellent heat resistance, moisture resistance, and durability and is suitable for export by sea or other means. At this point, however, it is highly probable that the regulations that the EU will establish in the future will deem it "insufficiently recyclable."

Attention to future regulations introduced when doing business in the region is essential, and Japanese governments and companies need to respond more carefully.