The aim of this work was to study the development of active packaging system and its application in modern food packaging industry. The principle and application of different kinds of active packaging system in various food packaging were summarized, as well as the research progress all over the world, and the development direction and trend of active packaging system were prospected. Some achievements on the development of active packaging system for food packaging have been acquired in the fields of deoxygenation, control of CO2, removal of ethylene, control of moisture or humidity, antibacterial, which have been applied in food packaging industry. Active packaging system will play more and more important role in the field of food packaging. In the future, development of healthy, effective and safe active packaging system is the direction of food active packaging technology.