Food Contact Materials

EU Commission Opens Feedback on Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus X Directive

The European Commission is consulting on its Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus X Directive, which would amend pesticides, animal welfare and food-contact legislation as part of a wider burden-reduction package, with feedback windows running through late May and mid-June 2026. Agriculture, food, feed, chemicals and packaging businesses should assess how new rules on drone pesticide application, simplified farm record keeping and streamlined food-contact testing could affect compliance strategies, investment decisions and operational planning across EU markets.

16 May 2026, 08:57ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Slovenia Recalls Black Plastic Brabantia Ladle Over Primary Aromatic Amines Migration

Slovenia’s Health Inspectorate has ordered the recall of a black plastic Brabantia ladle sold by LES-MMS d.o.o. in Lesnina stores after tests, triggered by an EU RASFF notification, found excessive migration of primary aromatic amines into food. This reinforces regulatory scrutiny of chemical safety in plastic food-contact utensils and signals that manufacturers and retailers must ensure robust material compliance controls and traceability for kitchenware placed on the EU market.

15 May 2026, 13:35gov.siSloveniaEuropean Union

EU NGOs Urge EU Leaders To Uphold PPWR Application Date And PFAS Packaging Ban

A large coalition of NGOs, consumer groups and reuse-focused businesses has issued a joint letter urging EU leaders to reject industry lobbying to delay the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation and to keep its August 2026 application date, including the PFAS ban in food-contact packaging. This high-profile advocacy highlights that PPWR timelines and core obligations remain politically sensitive but unchanged, reinforcing the need for packaging and food companies to prepare for the 12 August 2026 application date and related implementing measures.

15 May 2026, 08:50eeb.orgEuropean Union

US FDA Requests Information on Azodicarbonamide (ADA) in Food and Food-Contact Uses

FDA has opened an information-gathering process on the uses, exposure and safety of azodicarbonamide (ADA) in US food and food-contact materials, with stakeholder comments and data due by 13 July 2026. Food, packaging and chemical suppliers relying on ADA should assess their portfolios, consider submitting robust use and safety evidence, and prepare for potential future changes to permitted ADA uses or limits in the US market.

14 May 2026, 18:51federalregister.govUnited States

Slovenia Announces Recalls and Market Withdrawals for Multiple Foods and Consumer Products

In May 2026 Slovenian authorities, via consumer group ZPS, announced multiple recalls and market withdrawals covering frozen prawns, enoki mushrooms, a soft drink, a herbal liqueur, a children’s bracelet and a plastic spaghetti spoon due to microbiological contamination and chemical or physical safety risks. These actions highlight heightened scrutiny of imported foods and low-cost consumer goods, signalling to manufacturers and retailers the need for tighter supplier controls, additive compliance and food-contact material testing for products placed on the Slovenian market.

14 May 2026, 09:29zps.siSlovenia

US FDA Requests Information on Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) in Food and Food Contact Uses

US FDA has issued a Federal Register request for information on the current uses, exposure and safety data for the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in human food and food-contact materials, with comments due by 13 July 2026. The findings will feed into FDA’s post-market reassessment of BHT and could lead to changes in permitted uses or limits, so food, packaging and ingredient suppliers should map where BHT appears in their portfolios and consider submitting robust data to protect or adjust those uses.

13 May 2026, 19:19govinfo.govUnited States

Peru Ministry of Health Proposes Amendment to Article 119 on Food-Contact Materials and Packaging

Peru’s Ministry of Health has proposed a Supreme Decree to amend Article 119 of its national food and beverage hygiene regulation, tightening rules for food-contact materials and packaging, prohibiting reuse of non-food containers, and aligning interim requirements with US FDA and EU food-contact standards. If adopted, manufacturers, importers and packaging suppliers will need to ensure their food-contact packaging complies with EU and US benchmarks, prepare for a forthcoming Peruvian technical regulation, and consider engaging in the consultation running into July 2026.

12 May 2026, 12:56members.wto.orgPeru

Plateforme SCA Publishes BuSCA No. 155 on Chemical Contaminants in Rice, Seafood and Fermented Foods

France’s Plateforme SCA has issued BuSCA No.155 summarising recent evidence of heavy metals, plasticisers, mycotoxins, antibiotic residues and marine ciguatoxins in rice, seafood, feed and fermented plant foods across several countries. The bulletin highlights exceedances of existing contaminant limits and emerging toxin signals that may warrant closer supplier oversight, product testing and risk assessment by food and feed operators to stay within regulatory tolerances and anticipate future scrutiny.

12 May 2026, 12:52plateforme-sca.frEuropean UnionSpainItalyGermanyBrazilGlobal

Brazilian Chamber CCJ Approves Ban on Baby Bottles and Pacifiers With Bisphenol A (BPA)

In April 2026 Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Constitutional and Justice Committee approved bill PL 3075/2011 to amend Law 11.265/2006 and ban the sale and offer of baby bottles, teats, and pacifiers containing bisphenol A (BPA). If the bill clears the remaining parliamentary steps and is enacted, manufacturers and distributors of infant feeding products in Brazil will face a BPA-specific marketing ban, driving reformulation and tighter controls on materials used in childcare products.

12 May 2026, 12:49camara.leg.brBrazil

EU Updates Union Register of Novel Recycling Technologies for Food-Contact Plastics (Version 1.2.2, 27 April 2026)

European Commission DG SANTE has published version 1.2.2 of List 5 in the Union register of Novel Technology Numbers for recycled plastic food-contact materials, expanding the register to 27 validated novel recycling technologies as of 27 April 2026. This signals that the NTN register is becoming a central compliance reference, so recyclers and food-contact packaging value chains should ensure their technologies are correctly registered and that documentation and supplier due diligence align with the Union register entries.

11 May 2026, 10:30food.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

PPG Launches Regulatory-Ready Bisphenol- and PFAS-Free Coatings for Metal Packaging

PPG has introduced a suite of bisphenol-, PFAS- and PVC-free metal packaging coatings, targeting beverage cans, pet food cans and reusable aluminium bottles, to help global brands align with tightening food-contact regulations. The launches signal growing supply-chain readiness for forthcoming bisphenol and PFAS restrictions across key markets, giving food, beverage and personal care companies more options to de-risk compliance transitions in metal packaging.

11 May 2026, 10:25foodanddrinktechnology.comGlobal

Turkey Proposes Amendment Moving BPA Food-Contact Restrictions to New Bisphenols Communiqué

Turkey has notified a draft amendment that removes the bisphenol A annex entry from its Food-Contact Plastics Communiqué and instead relies on a new horizontal Communiqué restricting BPA and other hazardous bisphenols in a wide range of food-contact materials. If adopted, companies supplying plastics, coatings, inks and other food-contact materials into Turkey will need to align with the bisphenols Communiqué’s tighter bans and phased deadlines through 2026-2029, and adjust compliance mapping away from the plastics annex towards the new cross-material regime.

9 May 2026, 14:11members.wto.orgTürkiye

EU RASFF: Recall of Brabantia Soup Ladle From China Over Primary Aromatic Amine Migration

Belgium has notified the EU RASFF system of excessive primary aromatic amine migration from a Brabantia non-stick soup ladle imported from China, leading to an EC-validated information notification and coordinated recall/withdrawal actions in early May 2026. The case underlines active market surveillance of food-contact kitchenware across multiple EU countries, where non-compliance with EU food-contact rules can quickly trigger cross-border recalls and supplier reviews.

9 May 2026, 13:25webgate.ec.europa.euEuropean UnionBelgiumCroatiaSwedenChinaHong Kong SAR ChinaNetherlands

EU Council Presidency Circulates Fourth Compromise Text on Directive Amending Directives 98/58/EC and 2009/128/EC

The EU Council presidency has issued a fourth compromise text for a food and feed safety omnibus Directive that would adjust pesticide rules to allow tightly controlled drone spraying, streamline animal‑welfare record‑keeping, and repeal legacy plastic food‑contact testing directives. If adopted broadly as drafted, it would open new pathways for authorised drone-based pesticide applications, reduce farm reporting overlaps, and consolidate plastic food‑contact compliance, so operators and manufacturers should track how the final timelines, drone conditions, and low‑risk product flexibilities are settled in negotiations.

9 May 2026, 12:04eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Council Fourth Presidency Compromise on Food and Feed Safety Omnibus Directive (ST 8994/26)

In May 2026 the Council Presidency issued a fourth compromise draft directive in the EU’s food and feed safety simplification package, refining proposals on pesticide aerial spraying by drones, farm animal record-keeping, and repeal of legacy plastic food-contact migration testing directives. If adopted, the measure would create an EU framework for authorising pesticide drone use, streamline overlapping farm reporting duties, and formally anchor plastic food-contact migration testing in Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, shaping future compliance planning for agriculture and food-contact supply chains.

9 May 2026, 07:17eur-lex.europa.euEuropean Union

Austria AGES Recalls TEDi Spaghetti Spoon Over Elevated Primary Aromatic Amines

On 07 May 2026 the Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety recalled a spaghetti spoon sold by TEDi due to elevated levels of primary aromatic amines in the food-contact material. This highlights ongoing scrutiny of chemical migration from plastic kitchen utensils and reinforces the need for retailers and suppliers to ensure batches meet food-contact safety limits to avoid similar recalls.

9 May 2026, 07:16ages.atAustria

EU JRC EURL FCM Publishes Proficiency Test Report on Bisphenols for BPA Food-Contact Regulation Enforcement

In May 2026 the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre published an EURL FCM proficiency-test report on bisphenols, showing that EU reference and control laboratories can meet the analytical sensitivity required to enforce Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 on bisphenol A in food-contact materials. This strengthens confidence that current BPA restrictions and possible future measures on other bisphenols will be enforceable in practice, signalling tighter scrutiny of bisphenol use in food-contact packaging and higher compliance expectations for supply-chain and laboratory operators across the EU.

9 May 2026, 07:05publications.jrc.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

Henkel Launches PFAS-Free Cold Seal Adhesive for PPWR-Aligned Barrier Paper Packaging

Henkel has introduced Loctite Liofol CS 7106 RE, a PFAS-free cold-seal adhesive for barrier-coated paper packaging that is certified recyclable and designed to support compliance with the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. This gives brand owners and converters a near-term option to shift heat-sensitive snacks and confectionery into fibre-based, PPWR-aligned formats without major line changes, advancing both PFAS phase-out and packaging circularity strategies.

8 May 2026, 17:54henkel.comEuropean Union

EU Updates Plastic Recycling Food-Contact Guidance and Templates Under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616

The European Commission has expanded its plastic food-contact recycling guidance under Regulation (EU) 2022/1616, adding online registration forms, example dossiers, multilingual Annex II/III templates and global competent-authority contacts to support the Union register. Recyclers, facilities, scheme managers and novel-technology operators now have a clearer, standardised route to obtain and update RIN/RFN/RON/NTN registrations and demonstrate compliance across jurisdictions, improving transparency without changing the underlying legal obligations or deadlines.

8 May 2026, 07:46food.ec.europa.euEuropean Union

EFSA Call for Data on Technical Hexane Used as Food Extraction Solvent (Deadline 30 June 2026)

EFSA has an ongoing call for data to support the re-evaluation of technical hexane used as an extraction solvent in food production, with submissions open until 30 June 2026. The non-binding data collection will feed into EFSA’s risk assessment and may influence future EU decisions on solvent use and residue limits, so manufacturers and users of hexane-extracted ingredients should assess whether to contribute evidence.

8 May 2026, 07:45efsa.europa.euEuropean Union