Abstract: A teartape for packaging materials, and particularly such materials based on polyolefin films, includes a base film coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive composition. The teartape is affixed to the packaging material by the adhesive composition. This avoids the problem of distortion which can occur when affixing conventional teartapes to such packaging materials by means of hot melt wax compositions. The teartape is applied to moving packaging material by controlling the speed of the teartape in accordance with the speed of the packaging material so as to reduce tension imbalance. The speed of the teartape may be controlled in dependence upon the tension in the teartape. This can be achieved by supplying the teartape from a dispenser having a brake means (4,5) and a drive means (10,11,12) for regulating the speed oft he teartape in dependence on the tension in the teartape.