Italy´s Snia group has signed a cooperation agreement with Toppan to launch a range of packaging films for foods, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics in Europe. These are polyester barrier- and biaxially-oriented polyester films coated with transparent inorganic oxides which confer elevated oxygen barrier properties, making them suitable to replace aluminium foil or conventional PVDC coated films. At the outset, the films are to be imported from Japan. Later, a 2,000 t/y production unit is planned to be built in Europe, in cooperation with Snia subsidiary Caffaro FP (I-20031 Cesano Maderno, MI). The Italian group estimates the European market for high-barrier multilayer film at 36,000 t/y.