{"id":10199,"date":"2025-11-17T08:30:50","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T05:30:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T10:10:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T07:10:06","slug":"bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms\/","title":{"rendered":"BfR Strengthens Standards for Paper FCMs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut f\u00fcr Risikobewertung, BfR) has released a comprehensive <a href=\"https:\/\/empfehlungen.bfr.bund.de\/recommendations?locale=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">set of updates<\/a> affecting nine different types of food contact materials (FCMs) and articles. These updates, effective <strong>October 1, 2025<\/strong>, include eight revised recommendations and one withdrawal, refining safety and compliance expectations across materials such as polymers, silicones and paper-based products.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms\/#Annex_XXXVI_Paper_and_Board_for_Food_Contact\" >Annex XXXVI: Paper and Board for Food Contact<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms\/#Key_Updates_Across_Other_Annexes\" >Key Updates Across Other Annexes<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms\/#Implications_for_the_Packaging_Industry\" >Implications for the Packaging Industry<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/bfr-strengthens-standards-for-paper-fcms\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Annex_XXXVI_Paper_and_Board_for_Food_Contact\"><\/span><strong>Annex XXXVI: Paper and Board for Food Contact<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The updated Annex XXXVI introduces significant tightening of requirements for <strong>paper and paperboard materials intended for direct or indirect food contact.<\/strong> Among the most notable changes:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Migration limits strengthened:<\/strong> The allowable <strong>bisphenol A (BPA) migration<\/strong> level for recycled paper has been reduced from <strong>0.05 mg\/kg to 0.01 mg\/kg<\/strong>, aligning with recent EU measures on bisphenols.<\/li>\n<li><strong>New testing benchmarks:<\/strong> The previous <strong>footnote 8<\/strong> has been replaced to require a <strong>gray scale 5<\/strong> under <strong>EN 646<\/strong> testing and an <strong>assessment level 5<\/strong> under <strong>EN 648<\/strong>, referencing BfR\u2019s own methods for paper, cardboard and paperboard.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Acrylamide release control:<\/strong> A new preamble requirement mandates <strong>\u201cNot Detected\u201d (ND)<\/strong> acrylamide release, defined by a <strong>detection limit (DL) of 0.01 mg\/kg<\/strong>, for finished products.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Expanded material specifications:<\/strong> Additional entries now define clearer standards for <strong>fibrous materials, production aids and special paper refining agents<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH):<\/strong> A new <strong>footnote 36<\/strong> addresses MOAH, reflecting growing concern over potential mineral oil contamination.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Revised treatment of primary aromatic amines (PAA):<\/strong> The note has been repositioned as <strong>footnote 10<\/strong> with updated text clarifying testing and compliance thresholds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Collectively, these updates reinforce BfR\u2019s intent to ensure <strong>paper and board FCMs meet higher safety, migration and testing standards<\/strong>, especially for recycled materials increasingly used in sustainable packaging.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-10195 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BfR-Strengthens-Standards-for-Paper-FCMs--1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"BfR Paper Food Contact Regulation German 2025\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BfR-Strengthens-Standards-for-Paper-FCMs--1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BfR-Strengthens-Standards-for-Paper-FCMs--300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BfR-Strengthens-Standards-for-Paper-FCMs--768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BfR-Strengthens-Standards-for-Paper-FCMs--1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/BfR-Strengthens-Standards-for-Paper-FCMs-.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Updates_Across_Other_Annexes\"><\/span><strong>Key Updates Across Other Annexes<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Although Annex XXXVI received the most extensive changes, several other recommendations also saw revisions or clarifications:<\/p>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li><strong>Annex XIV &#8211; Polymer Dispersions:<\/strong> Expands the list of emulsifying agents and introduces a new Category 3 for additives, covering <strong>microfibrillated cellulose<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Annex XV &#8211; Silicone:<\/strong> Updates footnote 7 to reference Recommendation XXV for <strong>waxes <\/strong>and<strong> paraffins compliance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Annex XVII &#8211; Polyterephthalic Acid Diol Esters:<\/strong> Adds a new footnote limiting <strong>bisphenol A diglycidyl<\/strong> ether and references Regulation (EU) 2024\/3190 concerning bisphenols.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Annex XXX &#8211; Conveyor Belts Made from Gutta-Percha and Balata:<\/strong> <strong>Withdrawn entirely<\/strong>, with no replacement.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Annexes XXXVI\/1, XXXVI\/2 and XXXVI\/3<\/strong> (covering cooking paper, baking paper and absorber pads): All now include the same <strong>ND (DL = 0.01 mg\/kg) acrylamide release<\/strong> requirement introduced in XXXVI.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Annex XLIV &#8211; Artificial Sausage Casings:<\/strong> Updates <strong>footnote 10<\/strong> to align with <strong>Recommendation XXV<\/strong> for waxes and paraffins.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Implications_for_the_Packaging_Industry\"><\/span><strong>Implications for the Packaging Industry<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">These revisions will require manufacturers, converters and importers of food contact materials to <strong>review existing formulations and testing procedures<\/strong> to ensure ongoing compliance. In particular, the <strong>stricter migration limits <\/strong>and <strong>enhanced testing requirements<\/strong> for paper and board will demand close collaboration between material suppliers and packaging producers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">For companies emphasizing sustainable or recycled paper packaging, the new limits underscore the importance of <strong>robust contaminant monitoring and documentation<\/strong> to demonstrate conformity with BfR\u2019s tightened standards.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">With these updates, the BfR continues to strengthen its framework for safe food contact materials, addressing both chemical migration risks and evolving EU regulatory expectations. The sweeping revisions in Annex XXXVI confirm that paper and board materials remain a priority for risk assessment as the packaging industry moves toward circular and fiber-based solutions. All nine updated recommendations came into force on October 1, 2025, and are available in German and English through the BfR website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bundesinstitut f\u00fcr Risikobewertung, BfR) has released a comprehensive set of updates affecting nine different types of food contact materials (FCMs) and articles. These updates, effective October 1, 2025, include eight revised recommendations and one withdrawal, refining safety and compliance expectations across materials such as polymers, silicones and paper-based&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10201,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,545,540],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10199","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-en","category-packaging-legislation-en","category-regulations-policy-en","category-28","category-545","category-540","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10199","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10199"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10199\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10202,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10199\/revisions\/10202"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10199"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10199"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.packlab.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10199"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}