Several packaging technologies based on active concepts have been approved by the USFDA without change to the normaly Premarket Notification process.
Brody et al. (2001) have noted the benefit of the earlier FDA approval of sandwiching postconsumer PET recyclate between virgin PET in their later approval of some oxygen scavenging compositions.
Some zeolites containing silver ions have been approved for use in plastic packaging for food in Japan,and, by the FDA, in the USA.
The requirements of the EPA must be considered in the USA, and the position of antimicrobial compositions may be less clear there at present.
Additives to packaging plastics may have implications for the environment when the package is returned to the earth via landfill or incineration, so regulations of the EPAs are a consideration in formulating packaging.