On February 26, 2026, European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS) published a briefing on the ‘state of play’ of food contact materials (FCMs) in the EU. It includes a primer on the science of migration of food contact chemicals, the regulatory landscape of FCMs in Europe, and ongoing developments.
Fragmented FCM regulation in the EU
The EU’s main legal framework for FCMs, Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, establishes general safety requirements, but harmonized rules across the EU exist only for certain materials, such as plastics and active and intelligent materials. Many others, including paper and board, inks, and adhesives, are largely governed at the national level (FPF reported). EPRS describes how “[m]ost EU countries do not set out detailed requirements. Instead, national measures are mainly based on lists of authorised substances (and exclusionary lists), with limits being the most common associated tool.” This fragmentation can lead to inconsistent safety standards for consumers and added complexity for the packaging industry (FPF reported).
Another limitation outlined in the report is the focus on intentionally added substances, “while non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), impurities, and degradation products remain insufficiently addressed” (FPF reported). A 2022 evaluation by the European Commission concluded that the framework is ‘sub-optimal’ due to the gaps in enforcement, lack of harmonization across the EU, and insufficient control of NIAS (FPF reported).
Growing pressure for stronger EU rules
EU policymakers and stakeholders are increasingly calling for reform. The European Parliament has advocated stronger and more harmonized legislation, contributing to recent measures targeting hazardous chemicals in packaging including bisphenols (FPF reported) and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, FPF reported).
The European Commission is currently working on a revision of EU FCM legislation, which aims to address the identified challenges.
Food Packaging Forum resources
The primer on FCCs and migration at the beginning of the EPRS report directly references the Food Packaging Forum’s Food Contact Chemicals Databse (FCCdb), the Database on Food Contact Chemicals Monitored in Humans (FCChumon), and FPF’s background article on non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). These resources outline the number of food contact chemicals known from official lists, which of those have been measured in humans, and how substances not meant to be in the final product can get there.
The Food Packaging Forum provides science-based resources for regulators, industry, and the public on chemicals in FCMs and their potential health effects. To learn more about the topics covered in the EPRS report, search the FPF website or ask the new chat bot (FPF reported).
Reference
Ivana Katsarova (February 26, 2026). “Food contact materials in the EU: State of play.” European Parliamentary Research Service.
