The European Commission has approved Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/351 to revise Regulation (EU) 10/2011 on plastic materials and products intended to come into contact with food, Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, and Regulation (EC) 2023/2006 on good manufacturing practices for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.
Main updates to Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 on plastic food contact materials
Plastic materials and items can only be put on the market if they comply with regulations related to the recycling of plastic food contact materials (European Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1616) and existing regulatory requirements.
New universal requirements for materials
Substances used in the production of food contact plastic materials and items must meet the following standards:
They must have high purity and technical quality suitable for food related purposes.
Manufacturers must fully understand the composition of all substances used in production.
Plastic materials and items can only include reprocessed plastics if they meet specific conditions.
New label requirements
For plastic materials and items designed for reuse, manufacturers must provide the following information:
Explanation on how to slow down material aging.
Indicating visible changes that may indicate wear or degradation.
Warning about specific damages or foreseeable misuse that may increase substance migration or make items unsuitable for contact with food.
In addition, plastic materials and items intended for food contact but not yet used must include consumer instructions. These instructions should outline the limitations related to one or more of the following elements:
Specific foods or food categories.
Allowable contact time and temperature.
Heating conditions, including suitability for using an oven or microwave.
Other revisions include:
Appendix III (Food Simulation Liquid)
Appendix IV (Declaration of Conformity)
Appendix V (Compliance Testing)
The amendments to Regulation (EU) No 2022/1616 and Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 regarding recycled plastics are also included in this revision.
effective date
This regulation shall come into effect on March 16, 2025.
Plastic materials and items produced before March 16, 2025 that comply with the original regulations can continue to be put on the market until September 16, 2026, and can be sold until inventory is depleted.
If plastic materials and products produced before March 16, 2025 that comply with the original regulation but do not comply with Amendment (EU) 2025/351, or substances used in the manufacture of such products, materials or articles, are first placed on the market after December 16, 2025, the compliance statement shall indicate that the product does not comply with (EU) 2025/351 and can only be used in the manufacture of plastic materials and articles placed on the market before September 16, 2026.
