Key Packaging Requirements
From 12 August 2026, new EU rules apply to certain packaging materials, including:
- Food packaging: Packaging that comes into contact with food must not contain PFAS (certain chemicals) above specified limits.
- Heavy metals: Packaging must not contain more than 100 mg/kg in total of lead, cadmium, mercury and hexavalent chromium.
If you export packaged goods to the EU, we advise it's is worth checking now, with your packaging materials and suppliers to ensure they meet the new requirements. Exporters should also be aware of potential Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) obligations, which can vary between EU countries.
Changes to packaging can also affect pallet utilisation, cargo dimensions, shipment weights and transport costs, so it is worth considering PPWR as part of your wider export planning.
For specific PPWR compliance requirements, we recommend taking specialist regulatory advice and talking to your packaging suppliers.
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