Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the CouncilShow full title

9. Printing

Any reproduction activity of text and/or images in which, with the use of an image carrier, ink is transferred onto whatever type of surface. It includes associated varnishing, coating and laminating techniques. However, only the following sub-processes are subject to Chapter V:

(a)

flexography – a printing activity using an image carrier of rubber or elastic photopolymers on which the printing areas are above the non-printing areas, using liquid inks which dry through evaporation;

(b)

heatset web offset – a web-fed printing activity using an image carrier in which the printing and non-printing area are in the same plane, where web-fed means that the material to be printed is fed to the machine from a reel as distinct from separate sheets. The non-printing area is treated to attract water and thus reject ink. The printing area is treated to receive and transmit ink to the surface to be printed. Evaporation takes place in an oven where hot air is used to heat the printed material;

(c)

laminating associated to a printing activity – the adhering together of two or more flexible materials to produce laminates;

(d)

publication rotogravure – a rotogravure printing activity used for printing paper for magazines, brochures, catalogues or similar products, using toluene-based inks;

(e)

rotogravure – a printing activity using a cylindrical image carrier in which the printing area is below the non-printing area, using liquid inks which dry through evaporation. The recesses are filled with ink and the surplus is cleaned off the non-printing area before the surface to be printed contacts the cylinder and lifts the ink from the recesses;

(f)

rotary screen printing – a web-fed printing activity in which the ink is passed onto the surface to be printed by forcing it through a porous image carrier, in which the printing area is open and the non-printing area is sealed off, using liquid inks which dry only through evaporation. Web-fed means that the material to be printed is fed into the machine from a reel as distinct from separate sheets;

(g)

varnishing – an activity by which a varnish or an adhesive coating for the purpose of later sealing the packaging material is applied to a flexible material.