The EU Food Contact Legislation

Framework Regulation, Safety Assessment, Compliance, Case Studies

Interactive workshops and case studies will provide hands-on experience with real compliance challenges.

The training addresses the challenge of ensuring food safety for food contact materials (FCMs), particularly where EU legislation is incomplete or evolving. Participants will gain a practical understanding of:

• How the EU regulates FCMs (Framework Regulation 1935/2004, GMP Regulation 2023/2006, specific materials and substances such as plastics, recycled plastics, ceramics)
• Current “hot topics” such as the new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), PFAS restrictions, bisphenol A phase-out, green claims, and sustainability-related measures
• How compliance is ensured through migration limits, declarations of conformity, and case law
• The role of EFSA, the European Commission, and Member States in the evaluation and enforcement of FCM law

Learning by doing: This training includes practical exercises.

Learning outcomes

• Know what a food contact material (FCM) is.
• Understand why FCMs are regulated under food law.
• Gain insight into the challenges of FCM regulation in the EU.
• Apply regulatory concepts to case studies (e.g. BPA, bamboo, mineral oils).

Practical exercise 1

• Case study: What are FCMs and what are the aims of regulation?
• Group work and discussion of results

Practical exercise 2: Case Law and EU Regulations

• Workshop with examples from recent EU-level cases and compliance enforcement.
• Presentation & discussion of results

Case Studies on “Hot Topics”

Participants will apply their knowledge to current controversies and enforcement examples:

• Bisphenol A (BPA): phase-out, EFSA’s TDI revision, new EU ban (2024/3190)
• Bamboo cups: melamine migration, non-authorised additives, market withdrawals
• Mineral oils in food packaging: contamination risks, monitoring and consumer organisation actions
• Group work, results discussion, Q&A

Who should attend this training?

Regulatory, scientific, quality assurance and legal professionals throughout the food packaging supply chain who want to keep up-to-date on the latest food packaging law developments in Europe.

Picture Credit: © colematt – istockphoto.com, © Alexander Limbach – AdobeStock