India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has issued a draft amendment to the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, proposing a complete ban on the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials. The move, released through a draft notification on October 6, 2025, marks a…
Μετά από καθυστερήσεις ετών, το Σύστημα Επιστροφής Εγγύησης (Deposit Return System – DRS) παίρνει επιτέλους μορφή και στην Ελλάδα με την ίδρυση της DRS Hellas A.E.. Ο νέος φορέας θα αναλάβει τη λειτουργία του πανελλαδικού συστήματος επιστροφής πλαστικών και μεταλλικών συσκευασιών ποτών, ενθαρρύνοντας τους καταναλωτές να επιστρέφουν τις άδειες συσκευασίες τους και να λαμβάνουν πίσω…
Denmark has completed a public consultation on its proposed draft governing food contact materials (FCMs) and articles, a move that could reshape the nation’s packaging standards. We outline the main points of the proposed Executive Order, its scope and the implications for businesses. If approved, the new rules will come into effect on January 1,…
Governments across Africa have introduced a wave of new packaging regulations in 2025, focusing on extended producer responsibility (EPR), bans on single-use plastics, and harmonization of technical standards. These measures aim to reduce waste, encourage recycling, and align national policies with international trade requirements. This article highlights the most recent developments, from Kenya’s EPR rollout…
On September 1st 2025, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) announced a proposal to add three substances to the Candidate List of Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs). A public consultation on the proposal is now open and will run until October 16, 2025. Substances Under Review The substances under review are: 4,4′-[2,2,2-trifluoro-1-(trifluoromethyl)ethylidene]diphenol and its…
Ukraine officially launched its REACH regulation, known as UA REACH (Resolution No. 847/2024), on January 26, 2025. Modeled on the EU REACH framework, this legislation establishes a structured system for the registration, evaluation, and management of chemicals on the Ukrainian market. For packaging companies importing raw materials, additives, or polymers, the regulation introduces new compliance…
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has unveiled new certification standards for beverage bottles, cleaning product containers, and cosmetics packaging. The criteria, effective from 24 January 2026, aim to cut down material use, encourage higher recycled content, and simplify recyclability processes. Certification Standards: Government Push Toward Circular Economy These standards are an…
Poland’s Ministry of Environment is preparing to roll out a fully state-run Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system, sparking pushback from major packaging industry groups including EUROPEN, Cepi, Flexible Packaging Europe, and Pro Carton. The organizations warn that the proposed model risks undermining both the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and the Packaging and Packaging Waste…
In a recent survey by McKinsey & Company, European consumers reveal how their attitudes toward sustainable packaging have shifted in 2025. The insights, drawn from roughly 1,000 respondents per country across five European nations, show clear trends, including regional nuances, and emphasize the delicate balancing act between sustainability, affordability, and practicality. Practical Priorities Still…
Mid-2025 marks a pivotal wave of updates in food contact material (FCM) regulations across three diverse markets: the Netherlands, Indonesia, and Brazil. While the Netherlands and Indonesia focus on tightening chemical thresholds and harmonizing standards, Brazil sets contaminant standards for recycled cellulosic food-contact materials. Netherlands Tightens Chemical Thresholds Across FCMs The Netherlands introduced amendments…
The second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2), convened from August 5 to 15, 2025 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, represented what many falsely hoped would be the final push toward a legally binding global plastics treaty to curb plastic pollution from production to disposal. Before the…
In 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is undergoing one of its most transformative regulatory shifts in decades. Prompted by public health concerns and administrative directives, changes in oversight of food contact materials (FCMs) now focus on post-market reassessment, elimination of loopholes, and alignment with best international practices. These reforms, anchored in a…