Equipment manufacturers have a small window of opportunity in which to get the government to adopt the sort of regulatory policies they would like to see put in place, claimed the new chief executive of the Processing and Packaging Machinery Association (PPMA) Chris Buxton.
Buxton, who replaced Andrew Manly in September, has just spent a two year secondment leading a UK Cabinet Office team working with industry to identify and implement solutions to “inappropriate and disproportionate” regulation, including recommendations made in the Hampton review for reduced regulation. He added that those in the business had until the middle of next year to put forward the issues upon which they would like to see action.
Because of the huge 25% reduction in the regulations that government departments responsible had been targeted with achieving, claimed Buxton, the industry was “pushing at an open door”
The principle aim of the PPMA with both the UK government and the European Commission is to ensure that the regulatory burden on its members - particularly that affecting health and safety - is kept to a minimum. “I would not like to see deregulation but a more appropriate regulation and a lighter touch,” said Buxton.
The PPMA is liaising with government departments on new legislation, including amendments to the Machinery directive, Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) regulations and the Low Voltage directive. It is also involved with setting European standards and is working with end users on the development of standards for various categories of packaging and food processing machinery.
As part of a strategy review that is currently under way, the PPMA - which represents 350 companies that provide equipment for food and drink manufacture, including 80 supplying processing equipment - it is examining its role in five key areas. These include membership growth and related areas; training and technical events; exports and the PPMA show, which was held last month at the NEC in Birmingham, as well as liaison with regulatory bodies.
The review comes against a backdrop of consolidation among processing and packaging end users. A survey carried out by the Packaging Industries Research Association (PIRA) in 2002 showed that 74% of companies involved in processing and packaging had merged or were merging.