Activities
The objective of the Association is:

To improve and develop the use of the products manufactured.

To study and to provide solutions to problems of common interest.

To maintain relations with all relevant private and public organizations.
History
CIPCEL (Comité International de la Pellicule Cellulosique) was founded in 1949 and is registered in Paris, France. Initially, CIPCEL represented solely the interests of regenerated cellulose film manufacturers, before the introduction of other polymeric films—such as cast or oriented polypropylene — which have supplanted, to a large extent, the use of regenerated cellulose films in many of its traditional applications. This has resulted in the rationalisation of European regenerated cellulose film producers.

CIPCEL actively promotes the interests of the viscose products industry in terms of both consumer protection and environmental concerns.
Pure cellulose casings were first produced commercially in 1925 to complement the use of natural gut in the rapidly expanding meat industry. The manufacture of such casings was based on the discovery of cellulose dissolution by Cross, Bevan and Beadle in 1892.
For more than 80 years, cellulose casings (reinforced fibrous casings or pure cellulose casings) have increasingly replaced the use of natural gut, particularly in high volume outlets, for example, hot dogs. Moreover, further developments in highly mechanised processing methods have led to the manufacture of casings of increasingly larger diameters for products such as Mortadella.
From the outset, the fact that cellulose is regarded as a natural product and can be almost completely regenerated from the viscose solution has been advantageous both to regenerated cellulose film manufacturers and to cellulose casing manufacturers.
Members

FUTAMURA CHEMICAL Co Ltd
2-29-16, Meieki
Nakamura-Ku
No. 450-0002, Nagoya, Japan

Kalle GmbH
Rheingaustrasse 190-196
65203 Wiesbade, Germany
Phone: 0049 611 962 07

Viscofan S.A.
C/Berroa n° 15-4a planta
Poligono Industrial Berroa
E 31192 TAJONAR, NAVARRA, Spain
Phone: 0034 948 198 444

VISKASE S.A.
10, Chaussée Feldtrappe
BP 20923
60009 Beauvais Cedex, France
Phone: 0033 344 063 700

Glossary
Natural casings:
Natural casings are produced from the intestines of animals, usually sheep and hogs.
Artificial casings:
Artificial casings are produced from various different materials including cellulose and collagen.
Collagen casings:
Collagen casings are made by stripping the natural collagen from animal hides, such as those of cattle, and regenerating following dilution in a suitable solvent.
Reinforced fibrous casings:
Fibrous cellulose casings are formed in much the same chemical way as pure cellulose casings. These casings include, in addition to pure cellulose from viscose, a paper substrate generally produced from abaca or Manila hemp fibres, or a nonwoven support. These casings are non-edible.
Synthetic casings:
Plastics are to be considered as synthetic casings; they are normally made from several layers of polymeric materials. Some of the more common man-made polymers include polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyvinylidene chloride and polyvinyl chloride.
Pure cellulose casings:
Cellulose casings originally comprised pure cellulose from viscose and, as such, were considered to be man-made in the sense of taking a natural polymer, i.e. cellulose, and regenerating it following dissolution. These casings are non-edible.
Regenerated Cellulose film:
Regenerated cellulose film is a thin sheet material obtained from a refined cellulose derived from unrecycled wood or cotton. To meet technical requirements, suitable substances may be added either in the mass or on the surface. Regenerated cellulose film may be coated on one or both sides.
Publications
REGULATION (EC) No 1935/2004 (PDF)
on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
Contacts
CIPCEL
40, rue Belliard
B - 1040 Brussels
Belgium
Mr. Frédéric Van Houte Telephone: 0032 2 880 52 92
GSM: 0032 479 70 75 75
Email: fvh@cirfs.org