The British Retail Consortium/Institute of Packaging technical standard, for companies manufacturing and supplying food packaging materials for retailer-branded products, will mean companies not complying will be severely disadvantaged in a very competitive market.

Probita launched in October 2002 to offer evaluation and certification services in relation to the standard. Chief executive officer Alan Redrup said: 'Probita staff and associates have extensive combined experience of management and quality systems, especially in the food packaging industry.'