The 2004 Global Ecolabelling Network Annual General Meeting and Related Events were held in Tokyo and Sendai, Japan from October 5 to 9, 2004. It was organized by the Japan Environment Association (JEA).

In the GEN 10th Anniversary International Workshop on October 5, discussions were held on various issues related to the proposed GEN International Coordinated Ecolabelling System (GENICES).

On 6 October all participants attended a GEN co-organized Special Discussion Group “Environmental Labels in the World” in the 1st International Conference on Green Purchasing in Sendai. Presentations were made by members of different eco-labeling programs on the latest trend and status of ecolabelling. Future Development of programs such as the Blue Angel and the Nordic Swan, mutual recognition matters as well as Type III eco-label were among the themes. Attendees of the conference were from all over the world who are engaged in green products and green purchasing.

Back in Tokyo, the GEN AGM was held on 8 October, and continued into the 9th with presentations by member programs. The Hong Kong Green Label had a presentation on “Biodegradable Food Containers: Green Alternative With Right Criteria ?” highlighting problem(s) arising from the ecolabelling of Food Containers in Hong Kong, the criteria for which have been based on the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department (EPD)’s “Testing Guideline on the Degradability and Food Safety of Containers and Bags”.

The main problem arises from the fact that the EPD’s Guideline has been based on plastics which resist substance migration from food container to foodstuffs, not taking into account the characteristics of natural polymers which are now commonly used to manufacture Food Containers, especially in east Asia.

The main area of concern is the Overall Mitigation Test (by Article Filling), where the quantity of substance that may migrate from the food container to the foodstuff is determined using food simulants of distilled water, acetic acid and ethanol -- each filling food containers under test to their nominal volume. This requires about 400-450 ml 3% acetic acid to be used for each containers which is equivalent to about 400 ml of vinegar. This large quantity of acid substance is considered unrealistic in regard to the actual usage of food containers. In fact, the small quantity of leached out raw materials under the existing test have been found to be non-toxic.

It was suggested in the presentation that EPD’s Testing Guideline on the Degradability and Food Safety of Containers and Bags be revised in regard to the Overall Migration test with the volume of acetic acid simulant lowered to a practical level; or the limit of leached out materials for Natural Polymers can be increased.