Topics
FCM
January 28, 2026
Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (DG Sante) publishes study on sustainability of food contact materials (FCMs) in light of planned revision of current EU FCM legislation; identifies seven severe sustainability problems with current FCMs; outlines four policy measures that could address gaps within ongoing EU FCM legislation
Reading time: 5 minutes
April 28, 2025
Regulation amending several EU regulations on plastic food contact material (FCMs) entered into force on March 16, 2025; broadens scope, addresses non-intentionally added substances, and introduces labeling requirements for repeated use plastic articles
Reading time: 3 minutes
August 10, 2023
EU amends plastic FCM regulation; adjusts specific migration limits for five phthalates; removes authorized use of two FCMs; adds five new authorized substances; came into force on August 1, 2023
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 20, 2023
European Commission (EC) publishes final report on consultation period concerning FCM policy revision; results feature citizens’ and stakeholder’s opinions on extent of FCM policy; Commission adoption planned for second quarter of 2023
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 10, 2023
National Health Commission publishes draft amendment to standard on uses of additives in food contact materials (FCMs) and articles; includes correction about specific migration limits of certain chemicals
Reading time: 1 minute
January 15, 2021
UK's Food Standards Agency releases food contact materials (FCM) authorization guide; no reauthorization needed for plastic or regenerated cellulose film additives authorized in the EU before January 1, 2021; application process for new substances will take up to 15 months; Northern Ireland will remain under EU rules
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 16, 2020
Council of Europe (CoE) releases resolution on safety and quality of food contact materials (FCMs); calls for harmonization of quality requirements and test procedures for chemicals in FCMs based on technical guides; recommends to implement measures reducing health risks from exposures
Topics: FCM
Reading time: 1 minute
December 16, 2020
Guide developed by Endocrine Society and International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) informs public interest organizations and policy-makers about presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in plastics; explains impacts of EDCs on human health, considers economic dimension
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 11, 2020
Amazon announces ban on 17 chemicals in food packaging; includes per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS); restricted substance list (RSL) applies to Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Fresh grocery delivery
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 27, 2020
China sets new limits for 2 food contact materials; polyethylene can be added at 0.3% to polyoxymethylene (POM); carboxy styrene-butadiene latex can be added to pressure-sensitive adhesives used in indirect food contact
Reading time: 1 minute
