The EU PPWR Packaging Regulation Has Officially Come Into Force.

The EU PPWR Packaging Regulation has officially come into force.

The first set of mandatory provisions under the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) will come into force on 12 August 2026. This regulation – dubbed the "strictest packaging legislation in the EU's history" – replaces the previous Directive (94/62/EC) and will be uniformly and mandatorily applied across all 27 member states without requiring individual national legislative adaptations. This marks the official entry of packaging and packaged goods exported to the EU into a new regulatory phase characterized by "统一 standards and full-chain compliance."

Regulatory Content

PPWR Application Scope

PPWR Application Scope: All Materials / All Scenarios / All Entities

Covers all materials: plastic, paper cards, glass, metal, composite films, foam cushioning, vacuum-formed liners, express delivery wrapping films, individual seasoning sachets, gift box laminating, etc.;

Covers all scenarios: sales packaging, combined packaging, transport packaging, e-commerce packaging, service packaging, etc.;

Covers all entities: manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, suppliers, cross-border sellers, export traders, etc.

Limit requirements for substances in packaging

1. The total content of the four heavy metals-lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium-in all packaging shall not exceed 100 mg/kg;

2. New PFAS restriction requirements for food contact packaging

· Single PFAS (non-polymer) <25 ppb

· Total PFAS (non-polymeric) <250 ppb

· Total PFAS content containing polymers (calculated as fluorine content) ≤ 50 ppm

Sustainability Hard Metrics

1. Recyclability: As of January 1, 2030, packaging must meet Grade C or above (recycling rate ≥ 70%); as of January 1, 2038, only Grade A (recycling rate ≥ 95%) and Grade B (recycling rate ≥ 80%) will be permitted; packaging rated Grade C or below shall not be placed on the market;

2. Recycled plastic content: For the first time in the packaging sector, the requirement for recycled material content has been elevated to a mandatory standard, with phased targets set for different types of plastic packaging;

3. Reduction of packaging volume and void ratio: By 2030, the packaging void ratio shall be ≤50%; excessive packaging is prohibited;

4. Labeling Information: Packaging sold on the market must comply with unified labeling requirements as stipulated by regulatory authorities, disclosing the material composition and the recyclability label;

5. EPR Registration: When packaging is first placed on the market in an EU member state, or when the producer of packaged products is sold directly to end consumers, the producer must complete EPR registration in accordance with the target market, submit the packaging data declaration, and pay the relevant fees.

Corporate Compliance Recommendations

With less than 20 days remaining before the regulation takes effect, export enterprises engaged in cross-border e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods, food-contact materials, and medical devices should take immediate action:

1. Hazardous substance screening: Verify whether existing packaging complies with the new limit values to avoid customs clearance delays;

2. Supply Chain Reverse Traceability: Requires upstream packaging material suppliers to provide testing reports and compliance declarations that comply with the PPWR standard;

3. EPR Multi-National Registration: Complete EPR registration in each target Member State according to the consumer's place of residence; once the registration number is obtained, upload it to the platform for verification.

GRGTEST Related Service Capability

Compliance with regulations regarding the contact of packaging materials containing hazardous substances with food

1. General packaging chemical safety: Core testing parameters including four heavy metal indicators, PFAS (total fluorine/individual compounds), GB 43352 (mandatory standard for express delivery packaging), phthalates, formaldehyde, solvent residues, and PAHs (particularly in rubber, recycled materials, or carbon black inks);

2. Special Food Contact Compliance: GB 4806, GB 31604, EU Regulation No.10/2011, FDA 21 CFR, LFGB, DGCCRF, Italian Legislative Decree No.1973, etc.; applicable to materials including plastics/paper and cardboard/metal/rubber/coated surfaces/silicone/enameled surfaces/ceramics/glass/adhesives/inks, among others;

3. Restricted substances: Bisphenols, PFAS, SVHCs, REACH Article XVII, testing for items covered by Annex I of POPs Regulations, French MOAH/MOSH, US TSCA/TPCH – stay up-to-date with the latest regulatory developments.

Packaging Physical Properties

Material property tests including Oxygen Transmission Rate (OTR), Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR), thickness, and tensile strength.

Regulatory Interpretation and Compliance Consulting

Provide dynamic updates on EU PPWR and food contact materials-related regulations, along with compliance strategy support.