New rules to limit the amount of “eternal chemicals” in food packaging begin to be applied on Wednesday in the European Union, under a new regulation that will be progressively implemented until 2030.
The new rules require that all food-contact packaging must adhere to limits for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “eternal chemicals” due to the high persistence of these compounds in the environment and their ability to accumulate in organisms.
In a press release, the European Commission states that this type of substances has been “widely used in food packaging, such as take-away containers, fast-food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, bakery product paper, or pizza boxes, due to their water- and grease-repellent properties”.
“By limiting the use of PFAS in packaging intended for contact with food, the new rules will help protect human health while simultaneously reducing the release of these harmful substances into the environment,” the European Commission executive says.
The new rules also create information requirements for food producers and importers to ensure that if some standards are not met the product can be traced back to its origin.
These requirements do not necessarily have to appear on the product packaging, and may be included in a shipping guide or transport invoice, which, in practice, will mean the appearance of the packaging will not change for the end consumer.
Because of the significant changes these updates will bring for companies, the European Commission foresees a transitional period, recommending to Member States that in the initial months of implementation products are not withdrawn from the market for lack of compliance with the new rules.
“Member States should not apply the rules through fines for non-compliance, but rather support and coordinate with companies, providing them with guidance and clarifications. They may issue warnings, but should not, at an initial stage, impose fines or any other type of sanctions,” urged a European official, calling for the new rules to be “implemented in a positive manner”.
These rules are only the first to come into force under the new European Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste, which will be progressively implemented across the European Union (EU) by 2030.
Among the main measures to be adopted under this regulation in the coming years is a new “harmonized packaging labeling system,” which will come into effect in 2028, aiming to increase recycling efficiency in the EU and allow the packaging industry to “save billions of euros over the years”.
From 2030, further rules will apply that will create “new limits for empty spaces in packaging” or promote the circular economy, including through the “mandatory use of recycled plastic in the production of new packaging” and the requirement that all packaging becomes recyclable.
The objective of this regulation is to reduce the EU’s environmental footprint, at a time when it is estimated that each European discards about 180 kilograms of packaging every year and that 40% of the plastic used in Europe goes to the sector.
The regulation also aims to reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil fuels, from which almost all plastic packaging is produced.
