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New York gets flexible

Packagers of edible or otherwise nontoxic oils and greases now have a little more breathing space from the regulatory hand of Uncle Sam. Under a newly enacted law, federal agencies--except FDA and FSIS--must now differentiate between edible oils (fats, oils and greases from animal, vegetable or marine sources) and other oils/greases like petroleum when developing or enforcing regulations relating to transportation, storage, release, emission or disposal.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) and other food groups had argued it was costly and unnecessary to equate nontoxic edible oils/greases with other petroleum products in restrictive regulations designed to protect the environment. The edible oils legislation was among the first items of business for "Corrections Day," the brainchild of House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA). Outdated, overly burdensome or just plain silly laws and regulations are considered for repeal on the regularly scheduled House "Corrections Days."

Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
Hiring remains a major challenge in packaging, with 78% struggling to fill unskilled roles and 84% lacking experienced workers. As automation grows, companies must rethink hiring and training. Download the full report for key insights.
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Annual Outlook Report: Workforce
The AI revolution in packaging robotics is here
Robots that see variations, adjust grip pressure automatically, accept plain-English commands, and predict their own maintenance. Discover how AI is transforming packaging operations.
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The AI revolution in packaging robotics is here