Levosil at CPHI Milan 2026: Micro Bag for pharmaceutical primary packaging

/in , /by

CPHI 2026

Levosil at CPHI Milan 2026: Micro Bag for pharmaceutical primary packaging

⏱ Reading time: 1 minute

Levosil is exhibiting at CPHI Milan 2026, from 6 to 8 October at Fiera Milano Rho, with a booth dedicated to Micro Bag, the desiccant bags designed for pharmaceutical primary packaging. You will find us at booth 11K49, in Hall 11.

Micro Bag are made with Tyvek® and produced in an ISO 15378 certified area, specific to pharmaceutical primary packaging. They remove the excess moisture inside the pack, helping to protect the product and extend its shelf life, without altering the organoleptic properties or the active ingredients.

At CPHI you can see the range up close, available with silica gel, natural clay or molecular sieve, and talk with our technical team about the dosing requirements of each type of pack.

Key points

  • Levosil is at CPHI Milan 2026, 6-8 October, booth 11K49, Hall 11.
  • Micro Bag are produced in an ISO 15378 certified area for pharmaceutical primary packaging.
  • Tyvek® makes it possible to use Micro Bag as primary packaging material.
  • Available with silica gel, natural clay or molecular sieve.

Contact us: +39 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

Desiccants for seeds: every point of moisture doubles shelf life

/in /by

⏱ Reading time: 6 minutes

Desiccants for seeds keep the seed within the moisture range where it stays viable longest, stabilising its water content and holding it in optimal storage conditions. They apply equally to a commercial seed lot bound for field sowing and to the packets a gardener keeps from one season to the next.

Every percentage point of moisture doubles seed life

The rules of thumb formulated by Harrington (James F. Harrington, 1916-2002, professor emeritus of vegetable crops at the University of California, Davis) and reported by the FAO in its handbook on seed storage are two, and both are precise:

  • between 4% and 14% seed moisture content, longevity doubles for every percentage point of moisture removed. A lot that holds its germination for one year at 12% moisture will hold it for two years at 11%, four years at 10% and eight years at 9%: four points of moisture are worth sixteen times the storage life.
  • between 0 and 50 °C, longevity doubles for every 5 °C drop in temperature.

The working thresholds are equally clear. Above 12-14% moisture, moulds develop. Above 18-20% the lot begins to heat itself through respiration. Below 8-9% insect activity falls off sharply. Between 4% and 8%, storage in a closed container is considered safe.

Getting the dosage right

Drier is not indefinitely better.

Harrington’s rule holds within a defined range, and below 4% there are no documented benefits. The FAO genebank standards call for orthodox seeds (those that tolerate deep drying and low temperatures without losing the ability to germinate) to be dried to equilibrium with an environment at 10-25% relative humidity, and no further. An oversized desiccant in a small, tightly sealed package takes the seed below the level where viability stops improving and, in some species, starts to decline.

The quantity of desiccant has to be calculated from the volume of the package, the water vapour permeability of the material, the starting moisture of the lot, the intended storage period and the adsorption capacity of the desiccant used. The same logic that governs sizing under DIN 55474 for industrial packaging, with one added constraint: the seed is a living organism, and the target is not the absolute minimum but a defined window.

Levosil performs this calculation for the customer, based on the characteristics of the package and the storage conditions declared.

Moisture-barrier packaging

A desiccant works on the air around it. If the package lets water vapour through, the sachet comes into equilibrium with the surrounding environment and saturates, its capacity spent well before the end of the storage period.

This is why the choice of package comes before the choice of desiccant. Paper envelopes, thin polyethylene bags and jars without a proper seal do not hold moisture out: they slow the exchange, they do not stop it. For long-term storage the FAO points to sealed metal containers, thick glass or laminated foil pouches, which hold seed moisture steady for decades.

A moisture-barrier package with the right desiccant inside is a system. Neither one, on its own, is.

Commercial seed lots and warehousing

For a seed company the issue is not storage as such: it is holding the declared germination rate steady from packing through to sowing, including storage in unconditioned warehouses and transport, often by sea.

Levosil desiccants are available in every unit weight, so they can be matched to any type of package.

Garden seeds and home storage

The most common mistake among gardeners is the jar in the refrigerator.

The idea is sound (cold doubles longevity every 5 °C), but moisture has to be controlled as well. Every time the jar is opened, the cold container meets the warm, humid air of the kitchen, and water condenses directly onto the seeds.

Condensation is prevented with a suitable package and a Micro Bag inside: the desiccant takes up the moisture that enters at each opening before it reaches dew point on the seed. Micro Bag is the right format here because it fits small packets and jars, where a conventional sachet would not.

Why we use Micro Bag for seeds

Micro Bag is the desiccant Levosil produces for direct contact with food and pharmaceutical products. That has a consequence which matters particularly in the seed sector: it is not a vehicle for contamination.

  • Manufactured under ISO 15378, the quality standard for pharmaceutical primary packaging.
  • Production areas and finished products undergo annual microbiological testing to verify their purity.
  • No mould spores are introduced into the container.

The desiccant removes excess moisture from the air and holds the water vapour within itself. It releases nothing, does not alter organoleptic properties and does not act chemically on the seed, which also makes it suitable for organic seed production.

Ocean containers and Levodry Gel

In sea freight the problem changes in kind.

A container crosses different climate zones. The internal air cools, relative humidity rises and reaches dew point, and the moisture condenses: these are the conditions that produce what is known as container rain. According to the Transport Information Service of the German marine insurers, moulds develop from 75% relative humidity upwards and corrosion is negligible below 40%, so relative humidity has to be held below 40% to rule out moisture damage in transit.

The quantities involved are an order of magnitude away from those of a package. The same service calculates that a 20-foot container holding 24 tonnes of cocoa at 12% moisture contains 2,880 kg of water. A study published in 2026 in Heat and Mass Transfer models a fourteen-day winter voyage from Abidjan to Hamburg and predicts 15.4 kg of condensation, 85.8% of it in the final week, with condensation forming even at 6% cargo moisture, well inside microbiologically safe limits.

Levodry Gel does not dry the cargo: it governs the humidity of the air. It is a calcium chloride desiccant that binds water as a gel and does not release it. The hanging strip format can be attached to the container’s lashing rings or fitted into the corrugations of the walls. The number of units per container is calculated from voyage duration, route, season and the hygroscopicity of the cargo. For seeds, which are living and hygroscopic, sizing has to be worked out case by case. Good practice for stowing cargo transport units is set out in the CTU Code, which we covered in a dedicated article.

Key points

  • Between 4% and 14%, every percentage point of moisture removed doubles seed longevity; so does every 5 °C drop in temperature.
  • Drier is not always better: below 4% there are no documented benefits, and the desiccant quantity should be calculated, not maximised.
  • A desiccant only works inside a moisture-barrier package.
  • For garden seeds, a jar kept in the refrigerator without a desiccant produces condensation at every opening.
  • Micro Bag is manufactured under ISO 15378 for direct food contact, with annual microbiological testing of production areas and products: it introduces no mould spores.
  • In sea freight, Levodry Gel governs the humidity of the air and protects moisture-sensitive cargo.
  • Levosil calculates the desiccant quantity for your package and the number of units per container: send us volume, material, starting moisture and intended duration.

Contact us: +39 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

Plastic Free Desiccant Bags for Pharmaceutical Packaging: What FSC Chain of Custody Actually Covers

/in /by

⏱ Reading time: 3 minutes

The Micro Bag Plastic Free is the version of Levosil’s desiccant sachet built with a paper envelope instead of Tyvek® or similar non-woven materials, designed to cut the plastic content of the packaging without giving up any of the requirements pharmaceutical or nutraceutical applications call for. Like every Micro Bag, it works by pulling excess moisture out of the surrounding air and holding onto it, without affecting the drug’s organoleptic properties or its active ingredients. That keeps it a working line of defence against humidity both inside the bottle and inside the secondary packaging box.

Food-grade paper, suitable for direct contact

The difference from a generic recycled-paper sachet lies in the grade of the material: Levosil uses food-grade paper, which qualifies it for direct contact with the drug. That makes the Micro Bag Plastic Free suitable both as primary packaging, sitting alongside tablets, capsules or medical devices inside the bottle, and as secondary packaging, inside the outer box or blister carton.

The paper envelope matches Tyvek® on dust containment and vapour permeability.

What FSC Chain of Custody actually certifies

The FSC® mark on the pack doesn’t certify the sachet itself; it certifies the supply chain that produced the paper. FSC Chain of Custody certification tracks wood or paper material through every stage of production, from forests managed to defined environmental, social and economic standards (or from controlled or recycled sources) all the way to the finished, labelled product. Every company in that chain that owns, processes, packages or labels the certified material needs its own independent certification, verified by an accredited body: if a single link isn’t certified, the chain breaks and the final product can’t carry the FSC® mark. Levosil has held FSC® Chain of Custody certification since 2018 (certificate CQ-COC 000426), specifically for the paper used as an envelope on these desiccant bags.

Compostable, not just plastic free

“Plastic free” describes the absence of fossil-based plastic in the envelope; compostability is a separate property, tied to how the material behaves at end of life. The coating on Levosil’s paper complies with the EN 13432 standard for industrial compostability of packaging. The result is a desiccant bag that is 100% dust free (the envelope fully contains any dust the desiccant might release), fully compostable, and made in Italy.

The same performance as the standard Micro Bag

The envelope changes; the content doesn’t. The Micro Bag Plastic Free is available with the same range of desiccants as the rest of the Micro Bag line, matched to the application. Silica gel remains the most widely used in pharmaceutical settings; molecular sieve is chosen when a faster, stronger drying action is needed; clay is the option for nutraceutical customers who prefer a naturally sourced desiccant. As with the rest of the Micro Bag line, production areas and finished products undergo annual microbiological testing that verifies their purity and rules out mould spores being introduced into the pack.

Key points

  • The Micro Bag Plastic Free replaces Tyvek® with a food-grade paper envelope, suitable for pharmaceutical primary packaging.
  • FSC® Chain of Custody certification covers the paper and the whole supply chain that processes it, not the sachet itself: Levosil has held it since 2018 (CQ-COC 000426).
  • The envelope is compostable to the EN 13432 standard, as well as free of fossil-based plastic.
  • Same desiccant range (silica gel, molecular sieve, clay) and same performance as the standard Micro Bag.

Contact us: +39 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

A desiccant for narrow-neck bottles: Micro Bag Slim

/in , /by

⏱ Reading time: 3 minutes

Micro Bags are mainly used to protect capsules, tablets, powders and dry food and pharmaceutical products from moisture. The standard format, 25 mm wide, covers most packaging requirements. But not every bottle has a neck that wide, and a desiccant for narrow-neck bottles has to fit through the opening.

This is why Levosil also produces the Micro Bag in the Slim format, with a 19 mm short side, so that it can be inserted into bottles with a narrow opening.

Three widths

The Micro Bag is available in three widths:

  • 25 mm, the classic format, always available in all weights.
  • 19 mm Slim version, designed for bottles with a small opening, in 0.5 g, 1 g and 2 g weights.
  • 22 mm, intermediate width, produced on request.

Standard weights range from 0.25 g to 6 g. But custom sizes and weights can be produced to customer specification, in all widths.

Three desiccants, according to the adsorption requirement

Micro Bags are available with Silica Gel, Activated Clay or Molecular Sieve. None of the desiccants used to produce Levosil desiccant bags are hazardous or subject to labelling.

All desiccant materials work by removing excess moisture from the air and trapping water vapour inside themselves, safely and permanently. They do not alter the organoleptic properties of food and do not cause chemical changes to active ingredients.

On request, Levosil also produces tailored desiccant blends for specific adsorption requirements.

Tyvek or FSC paper wrapping

The most common wrapping is Tyvek (spunbonded polyethylene), water vapour permeable and dust proof, compliant with the functional barrier requirements of Regulation (EC) 450/2009. The same performance can also be guaranteed with a certified FSC paper wrapping, suitable for direct food contact, for those looking for an alternative to plastic.

Pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food

The Micro Bag is manufactured in conformity with ISO 15378 and, for pharmaceutical use, is supported by a Type III Drug Master File.

For food contact, the Micro Bag complies with Article 3 of Regulation (EC) 1935/2004 and with Regulation (EU) 10/2011; the desiccant material meets USP chapter 670. Levosil is also registered with the competent local health authority (ASL, through the SUAP portal) under Article 6 of Italian Legislative Decree 29/2017, as a manufacturer of materials and articles intended to come into contact with food (MOCA).

The shape and the colour of the Micro Bag clearly distinguish it from the packaged product, reducing the risk of mix-up with capsules, tablets or other goods.

The printing on the Micro Bag complies with European regulations and, in the unconstrained area, can be customised to meet customer requirements.

In a few words:

  • 25 mm width for standard use, Micro Bag Slim (19 mm) for narrow-neck bottles, 22 mm on request.
  • Weights from 0.25 g to 6 g; custom sizes and weights available to customer specification.
  • Silica gel, activated clay or molecular sieves, according to the adsorption requirement.
  • Compliance with ISO 15378, Type III Drug Master File, Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, Regulation (EU) 10/2011, USP 670, MOCA registration with the competent ASL.
  • Also available with FSC® wrapping with compostable bioplastic.

You can contact us now for more information: 0039 011 96 43 430 + info@levosil.com

How to handle desiccants

/in , /by

⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

A desiccant sachet is considered “expired” when it has adsorbed all the moisture it can hold: at that point, it stops working.

The speed at which it saturates does not depend on chemical degradation of the material, but on how much moisture it encounters.

In a well-sealed package, with little incoming moisture, the same sachet can protect the contents for months. In a permeable package, or one filled with damp materials, it can be exhausted within a few days.

The desiccant does not expire. It saturates.

You might be tempted to look for an expiration date, as on a yogurt pot. But silica gel and activated clay do not chemically degrade over time: they adsorb water vapour until they reach their maximum capacity, then they stop.

The right question, then, is not “how long does the desiccant last”, but “how much moisture will reach the desiccant, and how quickly?”.

The packaging determines the duration

The desiccant sachet always works together with the packaging. Its job is to remove the moisture contained inside the packaging and capture the moisture that penetrates from outside over time.

If the barrier material enclosing the desiccant sachet and the goods to be protected lets large amounts of moisture through, the desiccant will saturate quickly.

The key parameter is the water vapour permeability of the packaging material (indicated on technical datasheets as WDD or WVTR, in g/m² per day): the more permeable the barrier, the more moisture enters each day, the sooner the desiccant saturates.

For this reason it is essential to always use quality barrier materials, suitable for the intended purpose and for the protection duration required.

The hidden moisture inside the packaging

There is also the moisture that the packaging itself already contains from the start. Pallet wood, cardboard, paper fillers: they are all hygroscopic materials that hold water and release it slowly into the air inside the package.

Never place damp materials inside the packaging. Every gram of water contained in wood or cardboard is a gram the desiccant will have to adsorb: capacity wasted from the start.

How long it lasts, in numbers: calculation according to DIN 55474

Estimating the required amount of desiccant — and therefore the duration of protection — is not done by eye: the DIN 55474 standard provides the calculation formula. But the formula only works if you have all the data. Here they are:

  • V — internal volume of the packaging (m³)
  • b — moisture contained in the internal air at closure (g/m³)
  • m — mass of hygroscopic materials inside the packaging: wood, cardboard, fillers (kg)
  • c — moisture content of these materials (g/kg)
  • A — surface area of the barrier packaging (m²)
  • WDD — water vapour permeability of the barrier material (g/m² · day)
  • t — required protection duration (days)
  • a, e — factors defined by the standard: adsorption capacity per desiccant unit and climatic correction factor

The result is the number of DIN desiccant units to insert in the packaging to guarantee protection for the entire time t.

We must accept that industrial packaging always has some water vapour permeability, whether higher or lower.

If the quantity resulting from the DIN calculation is correctly applied, you have the guarantee that the packaging will be preserved for the desired duration.

DIN 55474 applies to desiccants used inside packaging. For sizing desiccants used inside shipping containers, the reference is the CTU Code: we have covered this in a dedicated article.

In practice

  • The desiccant does not expire: it saturates as a function of the moisture it encounters.
  • Duration is determined by the packaging: a barrier is needed to isolate both the goods and the sachet from the outside environment.
  • Check the water vapour permeability (WDD) of the barrier material: this is the parameter that governs how much moisture enters each day. A low moisture barrier will require a larger number of desiccant sachets; a very high moisture barrier (such as aluminium Triplex) will require a smaller quantity.
  • No damp materials inside the package: wet wood and cardboard consume the desiccant before its time.
  • To calculate quantity and duration, use DIN 55474, with all the required data: without them, any estimate is a gamble.

If you would like to give us a call, we will handle the calculation for you: 0039 011 96 43 430 — info

Why do industry standards matter to customers?

/in /by

⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

How is the adsorption capacity of a desiccant determined?

The adsorption capacity of a desiccant is determined in the laboratory by exposing the material to air at controlled temperature and relative humidity, and measuring how much water it retains at equilibrium. The result always depends on the test conditions: the same product adsorbs very different amounts of moisture depending on the climate it is exposed to. This is why the DIN 55473 and MIL-D-3464E standards define fixed test conditions, allowing desiccant bags to be compared on a single, equal basis across all manufacturers.

Why do industry standards matter to customers?

Desiccant bags used inside packaging (inside boxes, to put it simply) are generally produced with three desiccant materials:

  • Silica gel: a synthetic desiccant, the most widely used in pharmaceutical and food applications.
  • Activated clay (sometimes referred to as “expanded clay”, which has nothing to do with it): a natural desiccant, suitable for most industrial applications.
  • Molecular sieves: zeolites with calibrated pores, for applications requiring selective adsorption of moisture only, or the ability to remove moisture even at high temperatures (this product also deserves a dedicated in-depth document, as it is not widespread and little known).

As we will see, the capacity of all desiccants varies with the temperature and relative humidity conditions in which they are used, which is why technical standards have been created over the years to regulate their use, production and testing methods. These standards are a useful tool for the customer: in a landscape where extravagant claims about desiccant properties are the norm, they make it possible to understand exactly how to evaluate the various products.

The most active standard today is DIN 55473.

Capacity depends on the test conditions

A desiccant has no “absolute” absorption capacity. The amount of water it can retain at equilibrium depends on two variables: the temperature and the relative humidity of the surrounding air. Strictly speaking, it also depends, to a very small extent, on atmospheric pressure, but this can be neglected under normal conditions of use. The higher the relative humidity, the more water the material adsorbs. Temperature works in two directions: it increases the capacity of the desiccant but, as it approaches the regeneration temperature of the material, it starts releasing moisture back into the environment, reducing the capacity until it is cancelled out completely.

Example: 100 g of silica gel in two different climates

  • At 23 °C and 40% relative humidity, 100 g of silica gel adsorb approximately 24 g of water vapour (typical value).
  • At 23 °C and 80% relative humidity, the same 100 g adsorb approximately 35 g (typical value).

Same product, same quantity: the figure changes only because the test conditions change. A capacity value without the corresponding temperature and relative humidity means nothing.

In practice, if a manufacturer tells you that their silica gel desiccant bag (a manufacturer of this kind would probably call it a “salt”) is better than the competition’s because theirs absorbs 35 g, it means they do not know, or fail to tell you, that their test was carried out — assuming they actually ran it and did not just copy figures from the internet — at a higher relative humidity, and that those 35 g are merely the performance of silica gel under extreme relative humidity conditions.

The standard is a guarantee for the customer

Standards define the exact test conditions, so that buyers can compare products on a single, equal basis.

  • DIN 55473: defines the desiccant unit (DU) as the quantity of material that, at equilibrium with air at 23 °C (±2 °C), adsorbs at least 3.0 g of water vapour at 20% relative humidity and 6.0 g at 40%.

Two bags declared as “1 unit” under the same standard therefore guarantee the same minimum performance, regardless of manufacturer or adsorbent material.

The DIN standard also defines how desiccant bags must be packed: another topic we will cover separately, as it deserves proper attention. For now, let us just say that Levosil delivers its products packed in HDPE to prevent them from becoming partially saturated before use, which would reduce their drying capacity. Attention is often focused on performance figures, while how to preserve that performance over time is overlooked. Levosil guarantees a two-year shelf life on its products.

Why testing is carried out at 23 °C and 40% relative humidity

Test conditions at low relative humidity are not an arbitrary choice: they measure the water that is actually retained.

Moisture adsorbed at 20-40% relative humidity is stably bound within the finest porosity of the granule and is not released back into the packaging. In contrast, the water absorbed in a test at 80% relative humidity is partly held weakly, through capillary condensation in the larger pores: if the relative humidity of the environment drops, that extra share is easily released.

A value measured at 80% relative humidity is therefore an impressive figure, but it does not represent the real protection the desiccant provides inside the packaging. Before comparing two datasheets, always check that the test conditions are declared and identical.

Besides, you had better hope your packaging never reaches 80% relative humidity, because at that point whether the silica gel performs at 24 or 35 per cent would be the least of your problems…

What about calcium chloride container desiccants?

The same principle applies to calcium chloride desiccant bags used inside shipping containers. Here too, fanciful and optimistic claims circulate on the web and need to be analysed to be fully understood. It is worth noting that the proliferation of “optimistic” manufacturers regarding the performance of their product has been largely encouraged by the lack of an industry standard for these materials.

We will dedicate a specific publication to this topic.

If you want to make sense of all this: 0039 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

CTU Code > Levodry

/in , /by

⏱ Reading time: 4 minutes

CTU Code and Levodry Gel: compliant desiccant bags for container protection

Yes, Levosil’s Levodry Gel complies with the CTU Code recommendations on humidity control inside containers. The calcium-chloride-based desiccant bags of the Levodry Gel range keep the internal relative humidity of the container below the 60% safety threshold, in line with Annex 3 of the CTU Code for reaching the “container-dry” state.

What the CTU Code is

The CTU Code (Code of Practice for the Packing of Cargo Transport Units) is the code of practice jointly published by IMO (International Maritime Organization), ILO (International Labour Organization) and UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe). It was endorsed in 2014, as an update of the previous 1997 Guidelines.

The supporting informative material is published as IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1498.

The CTU Code is not a mandatory regulation: it is a set of global recommendations, adopted as an international reference by freight forwarders, insurance companies, customs authorities and used in many countries as a basis for national legislation on cargo transport in containers.

It covers all transport modes of cargo transport units: maritime, road and rail.

What the CTU Code says about humidity in containers

Humidity control is addressed in Annex 3 of the CTU Code and further discussed in the informative material MSC.1/Circ.1498.

The key points are:

  • the cargo should be brought to the “container-dry” state before stowing, meaning a moisture content that does not release harmful amounts of water vapour during transport;
  • when pre-drying of the cargo is not sufficient, the use of desiccant bags is recommended to absorb the excess moisture;
  • risk thresholds are defined for the internal relative humidity (RH) of the container.

Relative humidity thresholds indicated by the CTU Code

Relative humidityRisk
≥ 40%Corrosion of ferrous metals
≥ 75%Mould growth on wood, food, textiles and hygroscopic goods
< 60%Level considered safe, with a margin against temperature variations

The RH below 60% value is indicated as the reference condition to prevent condensation (the so-called “container rain”) even in the presence of strong day/night temperature swings during maritime transport.

What container rain is and why it matters

Container rain is the phenomenon where the water vapour in the internal air of the container condenses on the walls and ceiling during nighttime cooling, then drips back on the cargo as actual rainfall. Consequences include:

  • corrosion of metal parts;
  • mould and fungal growth;
  • collapse of cardboard packaging;
  • stains, halos and packaging discolouration;
  • deterioration of hygroscopic products (coffee, cocoa, textiles, wood, dry food).

Even a few condensation cycles can cause irreversible damage.

How Levodry Gel ensures compliance with the CTU Code

Levodry Gel is a container-specific desiccant bag formulated with a mixture of calcium chloride and a gelling agent. Its technical features make it fully compliant with the CTU Code recommendations:

  • Absorption capacity up to 300% of its own weight: it captures the water vapour released by the cargo and packaging materials throughout the entire maritime transport.
  • Keeps the internal RH below 60%: it operates in the 40%–60% relative humidity window, exactly the range indicated by the CTU Code as safe.
  • Moisture-to-gel transformation: the gelling agent locks in the absorbed water, preventing any liquid from leaking out of the bag and contaminating the cargo.
  • Flexible formats: available in blankets, hook chains and single bags with PE side, suitable for standard dry containers, reefer containers and different loading configurations.
  • Regulatory safety: REACH-registered (Regulation EC 1907/2006), notified under EU Regulation 2017/542 (UFI) via the ECHA PCN portal and the Italian ISS, DMF-free according to Decision 2009/251/EC, free from SVHC substances.
  • Food-contact safe: suitable for the protection of food shipments and raw materials intended for human consumption.
  • FCC Guidelines compliant for the shipment of cocoa beans in containers.

How to size Levodry Gel correctly for a container

Sizing of Levodry Gel for a container is not covered by any standard: the correct quantity is determined by Levosil based on the technical experience gained since 1964 and on tests carried out in the internal climate chamber, considering several factors:

  • internal container volume (20′, 40′, 40′ HC);
  • voyage duration and route;
  • cargo type (hygroscopic or non-hygroscopic);
  • presence of wooden pallets and other materials releasing moisture;
  • possible use of plastic barrier covers or VCI films on the cargo.

Levosil provides direct technical support to recommend the optimal quantity on a case-by-case basis.

Further reading

For further information on the regulatory compliance of Levodry Gel:

The UFI code of Levodry Gel is notified via the ECHA PCN portal and the Italian ISS, and is available on request for B2B use.

Contact

You can contact us now for more information: 0039 011 96 43 430 — info@levosil.com

Desiccant and PPWR

/in , , /by

⏱ Reading time: 5 minutes

PPWR and Desiccant Bags: What Changes for Levosil

The Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR) is a very broad piece of legislation, designed to regulate the life of packaging as a whole. Because of this breadth, it inevitably leaves some room for interpretation for niche products that make up only a tiny share of the packaging market. Among these are desiccant bags.

Desiccant bags are not packaging in the traditional sense. In addition, there is currently no dedicated recycling chain for desiccants, since the quantities involved do not justify one, nor is there an eco-labelling system designed specifically for these products. These elements support the view that desiccant bags may fall outside the scope of the PPWR.

To obtain a definitive view, Levosil has requested a direct opinion from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment. Pending an official reply, the current position is that desiccant bags would not be subject to the PPWR. They remain, however, compliant with the part of the Regulation currently in force, in particular the substance requirements under Article 5.

Timing

As a general overview, the PPWR was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 22 January 2025 and entered into force on 11 February 2025. It applies generally from 12 August 2026 and replaces Directive 94/62/EC. The main purpose of the European packaging regulation is to reduce the environmental impact of packaging waste by promoting a circular economy.

Levodry Gel and its classification.

The Levodry line, based on calcium chloride, would in any case follow different end-of-life rules: spent material falls under the general waste framework, not packaging waste streams. The Levodry bag still complies with the substance requirements of Article 5, regardless of the final classification outcome.

What if I use the desiccant bag inside a product?

If the bag is permanently inserted inside a product as an integral part for its entire life cycle — for example, housed permanently in equipment or a lamp — it is not considered packaging. In that configuration, the PPWR does not apply.

Timeline

  • 11 February 2025: entry into force of the Regulation.
  • 12 August 2026: general application; PFAS limits for food-contact packaging under Article 5(5).
  • 1 January 2028: delegated acts on recycling design criteria and recyclability classes.
  • 12 August 2028: harmonised labelling on material composition.
  • 1 January 2030: obligation for recyclability in class A, B, or C; minimum recycled content in plastic parts; minimum reduction in weight and volume.

Levosil is already compliant with Article 5 of the PPWR

Regardless of the classification outcome, Levosil confirms the compliance of all its desiccant bags with the substance requirements of Article 5. The sum of lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium is below 100 mg/kg (100 ppm). All products are PFAS-free, and the limits applicable from 12 August 2026 are already respected for all applications. All products are free from bisphenol A (BPA), and Levosil does not use silica gel with cobalt chloride indicator.

The sizing of Levosil bags is also optimized according to DIN 55473 and DIN 55474. The amount of desiccant is calculated on the actual adsorption requirement, without excess, in line with the principle of minimizing packaging where applicable.

You can contact us now for more information: 0039 011 96 43 430

info@levosil.com

REACH and Desiccants

/in /by

REACH and desiccants

Levosil has been compliant with the REACH regulation since it entered into force in 2007, managing registration, traceability and documentation of its desiccants according to European requirements.

What is the REACH regulation

REACH (EC 1907/2006) governs the use of chemical substances in the European Union.
It has been in force since 2007 and requires registration with ECHA of substances produced or imported in quantities above 1 tonne per year.

Desiccants under REACH

Common desiccants used in packaging — including silica gel, calcium chloride and molecular sieves — fall within the REACH framework.

In practice:

  • registration is required above 1 ton/year
  • safety data and traceability must be available throughout the supply chain

One important exception:

  • natural clay not chemically modified is exempt (Annex V – Entry 7)

Risks of non-compliance

Non-compliance with REACH has consequences across the entire supply chain.

For producers and importers:

  • customs blocking of goods
  • market withdrawal
  • financial penalties (defined at national level)
  • legal liability and reputational damage

For users:

  • possession of non-compliant products in the EU market
  • traceability issues
  • potential liability within the supply chain

REACH status of main desiccants

DesiccantREACH statusObligation
Silica gelSubject to registrationYes, above threshold
Calcium chlorideSubject to registrationYes, above threshold
Molecular sieveSubject to registrationYes, above threshold
Natural clayExempt (if not modified)No

Compliance and documentation

To meet REACH requirements, products must:

  • be registered when required
  • include updated Safety Data Sheets (SDS)
  • be fully traceable in terms of origin and quantity

Levosil applies these requirements across its product range, in line with European regulations and quality standards.e 1 tonne/year, while natural clay may be exempt. Compliance ensures safety and continuity across the supply chain.

UFI mandatory on labels: Levodry Gel is already compliant

/in , /by

What the UFI is and what it does

The UFI (Unique Formula Identifier) is a unique alphanumeric code, made up of 16 characters, that must be printed on the product and on its label. Its purpose relates to health and safety: it unequivocally links information on the composition of a mixture to a specific product placed on the market. In the event of accidental exposure, it allows poison centres to quickly retrieve information on the composition and toxicology of the mixture by consulting the European database that associates each UFI code with the information notified through ECHA.

Who keeps the UFI database?

The UFI does not exist on its own: it is linked to a PCN notification (Poison Centre Notification). ECHA provides a centralised portal (the ECHA submission portal) for notification to poison centres. In Italy, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) is the body designated to receive the information — including the chemical composition — relating to mixtures classified as hazardous. This information makes up the Archive of Hazardous Preparations (Archivio dei Preparati Pericolosi, APP), which poison centres can consult in an emergency.

The UFI refers to a single product and is “personal”

Every UFI code is personal and non-transferable: because it is built from the VAT number of the company placing the product on the market and from a specific formulation number, it unequivocally links a given mixture to the party responsible for it. Products with a different composition have different UFIs, and every change in the formula corresponds to a new code. It should be stressed, however, that the code cannot be used to trace the composition of the mixture or any other confidential data: the UFI is not decodable, and the information associated with it is held in a database accessible exclusively to poison centres and healthcare facilities, in the event of an emergency. For this reason, its presence on the label in no way exposes resellers or those who market the product; it represents solely a guarantee of safety and compliance.

Reference legislation and obligations for those placing the product on the market

The UFI originates from Regulation (EU) 542/2017, which was incorporated into Annex VIII of the CLP Regulation 1272/2008. It is not an option but a legal obligation: companies that place hazardous mixtures on the market must transmit the necessary information to the competent national bodies, so that poison centres can rapidly provide medical advice in an emergency. The parties subject to the obligation are importers and downstream users who, in the course of industrial and professional activities, place on the market mixtures that are hazardous to health and/or present physical hazards. Failure to comply with the obligation may result in products being withdrawn from the market and in financial penalties, with possible inspections by the competent authorities.

Since when it has been mandatory to display it on the product

The final deadline has now passed: since 1 January 2025, the UFI on the label has been mandatory for all hazardous mixtures marketed within the European Economic Area, without exception. The obligation also applies to mixtures already placed on the market before that date.

The case of calcium chloride desiccants

The classification of calcium chloride — the main component of all desiccants used to protect containers, Levodry Gel included — is the reason why the irritant symbol and the information required by law are printed on the label and on the product itself. Under normal conditions of use, no contact is expected between the person using the desiccant bag and the calcium chloride contained inside it; this does not, however, relieve the manufacturer and the party placing the product on the market of the obligation to indicate the presence of a potentially irritant substance inside the packaging.

Desiccant bags based on calcium chloride, such as Levodry Gel — which contains between 60% and 90% of it — are classified as irritant (eye irritation category 2, H319 – “Causes serious eye irritation”) under the CLP Regulation. They therefore fall fully within the scope of the mixtures subject to the obligation. For this reason they must be notified through ECHA’s PCN portal and, for Italy, registered with the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS). Only after this registration is the UFI code generated, validated and affixed to the product. Once these formalities have been completed, the product can be placed on the market.

It is important to note that a product requiring any hazard classification cannot be placed on the market unless the UFI code has been registered.

Product safety

It is essential to understand that, in the case of Levodry Gel, the calcium chloride is contained within a functional barrier, and therefore in normal working operations the user is not expected to come into direct contact with the calcium chloride. Nevertheless, the law requires that the product be labelled and that the UFI code be registered with the competent authority as a precaution, in case of improper use or of leakage of the calcium chloride should the outer casing break.

Where the code must appear: label and product

The UFI must be physically present on the product and on its label, printed or affixed in a visible, legible and indelible manner, preceded by the letters “UFI”, which are not to be translated into the various languages.

Levosil has already done everything

Levodry Gel has its own code duly stated in the Safety Data Sheet and affixed to the product label, in full compliance with the CLP Regulation and its Annex VIII. Notification to the poison centres has been carried out, and the emergency contact details are indicated in every language version of the sheet. Choosing Levosil means purchasing products that are already compliant, with no risk of non-conformity for those who resell them or place them on the European market in turn.

Contact Us