Food legislation and food safety – February 2026
Food Contact Materials (FCMs) – rules and regulations
A recent study (6.07 MB) by the FAO examines the challenges of food e-commerce, particularly with regards to food safety and consumer protection, and looks at how – and first of all, if – different countries have addressed this from a regulatory standpoint. EU: In February 2026, (EU) 2026/250 was published correcting the BPA Regulation (EU) 2024/3190. The regulation bans the use of Bisphenol A in FCMs. An SGS article gives an overview of several of the changes. SGS reports that the EU has issued Regulation (EU) 2026/245, updating the positive list (Union list) of authorised substances for plastic FCMs. China: Keller and Heckman reports that the NHC has approved one new additive, three new resins and expanded usage for two additives for FCMs. Germany: The application of the positive list in Annex 14 of the Printing Inks Ordinance (in German) has been postponed by a year (in German) until 31 December 2026. India: SGS reports that the government has issued the Cookware, Utensils and Cans for Foods and Beverages (Quality Control) Order, 2026 (scroll down for English, 687 kB) mandating the use of national standard IS 14407 for aluminium cans for beverages and a Standard Mark among other things. Montenegro: SGS reports that a regulation (in Montenegrin) on recycled plastic FCMs has been published. It incorporates provisions from Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastic FCMs. South Korea: SGS reports that the government is planning to update its standards and specifications for food contact utensils, containers and packages. Switzerland: Draft legislation limiting the use of PFAS in food contact packaging has been sent to the EC. US: Keller and Heckman reports that the FDA has added fifteen new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS) Notifications. New Jersey: SGS reports that the government has published S 1042 regulating PFAS in food packaging composed, in substantial part, of paper or paperboard, or other materials originally derived from plant fibres.
Claims, marking and labelling – rules and regulations
EU: The EP has approved the provisional agreement with the Council on the 'wine package'. Among other things, labelling rules will become more simplified across the EU. Consumers will gain clearer access to information, including through digital labels and pictograms. Italy: Draft legislation on the use of the Italian organic label has been sent to the EC. NL: The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has announced that three major international coffee and cacao companies will adjust unclear sustainability claims on their packaging. They will stop using vague claims such as ‘responsible’ (in Dutch: ‘verantwoord’), and ‘sustainable’ (in Dutch: ‘duurzaam’), and will review their own sustainability logos. UK: The Supreme Court (207 kB) has ruled that Oatly cannot use its “Post Milk Generation” trademark on oat-based food and drink. US: The FDA is taking additional steps to support the transition from the use of artificial petroleum-based colours to alternatives derived from natural sources. Companies will now have flexibility to claim products contain no artificial colours when the products do not contain petroleum-based colours. In the past, companies were generally only able to make such claims when their products had no added colour whatsoever.
Research
FPF has updated the Food Contact Chemicals Priority List (FCCprio List). The list identifies and prioritises FCCs for phase-out and avoidance based on their hazard properties and exposure potential.
A recent study by the University of Illinois at Chicago, together with FPF and other co-authors, focuses on antimony migration from FCMs, associated health risks, and guidelines on how to reduce exposure. Antimony is used as a catalyst in the production of PET.
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