The European Federation of Wooden Pallet and Packaging Manufacturers (FEFPEB) has called on governments across Europe to help ensure wooden packaging and pallets remain freely available throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, to ensure that fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) and pharmaceutical supply chains are able to operate in a smooth and timely manner.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen made it clear this week that coordinated measures were required to protect the health of European citizens, but also to ensure that essential goods – especially food and medicines - and services were able to flow freely.
The EC has stipulated that EU member states should give priority to freight traffic, ensure safe working conditions for transport workers and that no additional certification should be needed for goods legally circulating within the EU single market.
'The government of each country has its own set of regulations for dealing with the Covid-19 crisis; our members and related business are adhering to these,' Fefpeb stated. 'However, we stress that they must support manufacturers of wooden pallets and packaging, and reconditioned pallet companies; pallet pools; sawmillers; and the logistics industry in general.'
FEFPEB said that it would continue to communicate with its members and the EC to ensure that supply chains are kept moving in order that essential goods continue to be available.
