Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
The South American trade bloc MERCOSUR has taken action on several food contact material (FCM) related resolutions so far in 2025.
Resolution No. 02/25 amends Resolution No. 40/15, updating technical regulations on cellulosic materials in contact with food. One key revision within the amendment: recycled-fiber articles must keep diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN, 38640-62-9) “as low as technically feasible.”
Resolution No. 28/24 amends the positive list for food-contact plastics (GMC Res. 02/12) with two new substances. The resolution passed in December 2024 and began being enforced in early 2025.
- Diglycidyl ether of tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPFDGE, CAS 113693-69-9) for beverage can coatings (with specific migration limits)
- Polyamide-Imide 2 (PAI2) for high-temp cookware coatings (limited to 60 µm thickness, ≤230 °C or short term 250 °C)
MERCOSUR published documents from the November 2024 meeting in February 2025. Those documents include Draft Resolution 07/24, which proposes updated regulation of post-consumer recycled PET packaging. This includes facility registration/documentation similar to EU standards and consideration of using chemically recycled starting materials. Paraguay is still reviewing the proposal.
Chile
According to Ricardo Chemical Solutions, Chile mandates GHS classification and labelling for all industrial and consumer products. The country is currently adding chemicals registration similar to the EU’s REACH regulation. Under Chilean Decree 57/2019 the government is requiring substance notifications in four batches. Hazardous substances for non-industrial use need to be registered by August 30, 2025.
Hazardous substances for industrial use should have already been registered in 2024. The deadline for hazardous substances in mixtures for industrial use is in 2027, and for non-industrial use in 2029.
Peru
In late 2024 Peru published a Draft Technical Regulation on recyclable and biodegradable plastic tableware. Targets include banning oxo-degradable plastics, restricting hazardous substances including heavy metals, requiring monomaterials for better recyclability, transparency in content and traceability, and proper labeling (e.g., “RECICLABLE”). Consultations will likely continue in 2025.
This article is part of a series from the Food Packaging Forum reviewing global regulatory and waste management from Q1 and Q2 2025. Other articles in the series cover Europe, US states, South and Southeast Asia, and Africa and the Middle East.
References
MERCOSUR (April 24, 2025). “Modification of GMC Resolution No. 40/15 ‘MERCOSUR technical regulation on cellulosic materials, packaging and equipment intended to come into contact with food.” (in Spanish)
MERCOSUR (December 4, 2024). “Modification of GMC Resolution No. 02/12 ‘MERCOSUR technical regulation on the positive list of monomers, other starting substances and polymers authorized for the manufacture of plastic packaging and equipment in contact with food’.” (in Spanish)
MERCOSUR (November 2024). “Draft Resolution No. 07/24: MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on Food Grade Recycled Postconsumer Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Containers (Food Grade PET-PCR) intended to be in Contact with Food.” Government of Argentina. (in Spanish, pdf)
Ricardo Chemical Solutions (June 16, 2025). “Regulatory updates in Chile: considerations for placing chemicals on the market.”
Government of Peru (December 2024). “Draft Supreme Decree Approving the Technical Regulation on Tableware and/or utensils.” (pdf)
Read more
Food Compliance (February 10, 2025). “Draft update of the MERCOSUR Technical Regulation on Polyethylene Terephthalate Containers has been published.”
Packaging Law (January 3, 2025). “MERCOSUR adds to its positive list of substances authorized for use in food-contact plastics.”
Packaging Law (April 2, 2025). “MERCOSUR proposes updated recycled food-contact PET regulation.”
SGS (June 10, 2025). “Mercosur revises food contact cellulosic materials.”
