On April 2, 2026, Brazil’s Ministry of Health adopted a new regulation on food contact silicones.
MERCOSUR
The silicone regulation was developed jointly with the other countries of the MERCOSUR trade bloc — Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Drafts were made available for comment in 2023 and 2024 (FPF reported). Once MERCOSUR adopted the resolution in December 2025, it became the responsibility of the governments of the trade bloc nations to incorporate it into law. Brazil is the first member of the bloc to inform the World Trade Organization it adopted the regulation.
The new regulation includes a positive list of substances allowed for use in silicone materials. This list is divided into seven parts, each part with its own specifications for: (i) silicone oils (fluids) and their respective emulsions; (ii) silicone resins; (iii) elastomeric silicones (silicone rubber); (iv) silicone coatings; (v) childcare products; (vi) additives, fillers and filler additives; and (vii) monomers.
Other food contact material regulations MERCOSUR is developing or recently updated include cellulosic materials, the positive list for plastics, and post-consumer recycled PET (FPF reported).
References
Brazilian Ministry of Health (April 2, 2026). “ANVISA NORMATIVE INSTRUCTION NO. 435, OF APRIL 2, 2026.” National Health Surveillance Agency
Government of Brazil (April 15, 2026). “Notification to the WTO.” World Trade Organization
Read more
SGS (January 13, 2026). “Mercosur updates technical regulation for food contact silicone materials.”
