The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reviewing its requirements for printing ink components that are used for the noncontact side of food packaging.

Manufacturers and users of industrial packaging may not always be aware of a product’s final destination or end purpose, meaning it could become subject to regulations not considered in the original packaging selection or manufacturing process.

The FDA and U.S. Department of Agriculture can cause concern in the minds of food and drug manufacturers and co-packers. Although these government agencies might be considered demanding at times, they play an important role that ensures there are procedures to protect the safety of the American public. There is an overwhelming amount of project planning and sourcing that goes on in the background of developing a product. Packaging is a large part of that process, which is also highly regulated by the FDA and USDA.