Migration worries

The problem is the different compliances label converters will be expected to meet, some of which are legislative and some of which are end user guidelines. All will require labels to be tested, often at the label converter’s expense.

It is not only indirect food applications which must be considered, but also pharma­ceuticals, where end users are already suggesting low migration inks will be required.

This has already led many label converters in these markets to pre-emptively (i.e. without a specific demand from their customers) implement a low migration regime, which is an additional cost on their business. Not only are LM inks more expensive, but the entire press needs to be kept free of any possible contamination, and this includes cleaning chemicals for ink pans and press wash down.

Ink manufacturers are faced with a similar dilemma. They clearly cannot wait until low migration inks become a legislative requirement, and have already developed a wide range of LM inks and varnishes, including pioneering efforts on UV LED LM inks, as seen at Labelexpo Europe 2015