Abstract: A packaging film having a gas barrier layer and a sealing layer, is constructed such that the gas barrier layer has at least three sublayers with two outer sublayers composed of a polyamide (PA) and a middle sublayer which is arranged between the outer sublayers and is composed of ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH), which sublayers are coextruded, and wherein the gas barrier layer is monoaxially stretched. Foodstuffs or other products can be packaged and sterilized within the packaging film by putting the product in the film and sealing the packaging by heating or exerting pressure on at least part of the film, and then heating at at least 100C for at least 10 minutes.