FPA Connect July 24 Final - Flipbook - Page 25
Why was it so important for the FPA to establish the
committee 3 and why now?
At the EGM in June, Mark Byrne, the FPA9s chair, spoke about protecting
our members from those who cheat, and that9s it in a nutshell really. All
FPA members sign up to the association9s Code of Practice, which
requires them to comply with current legislation as well as the rules and
regulations of the FPA, whereas sometimes non-members are not always
so responsible. The actions of some of those companies threaten the
reputation of the whole foodservice packaging industry.
In terms of why now, our sector has been under the spotlight from
legislators for a number of years and the regulatory landscape has
changed as a result. We have EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility),
DRS (Deposit Return Scheme) and, more recently, the Green Claims Code
and Simpler Recycling. FPA membership is a sign to customers that they
are trading with a supplier that is compliant with these and adhering to
the FPA Code of Practice. To protect that understanding, not only will the
FPA hold any transgressing members to account, but an independent
and confidential process now exists which allows members to submit
challenges about companies they believe are flouting the rules 3
irrespective of whether they are members or non-members.
But another important focus for of the committee is to support our
members as they navigate the regulatory minefield. Some regulatory
requirements can be complex and we work closely with the SAGA
committee to help our members interpret new regulations or legislation,
confirming what they9re doing right and flagging up any issues. The FPA
represents all shapes and sizes of businesses and while some larger
organisations may have their own legal and compliance teams, there are
many that don9t. We want to encourage our members to come and talk
to us if they have concerns about compliance 3 in relation to their own
companies as well as their competitors and other organisations.
25 FPA CONNECT
