Authorised Substances and Compliance
EU legislation on specific substances
The main recent EU measure on specific substances is Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which regulates the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives with harmonised hazardous classifications in certain food contact materials. The Regulation also amends Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and repeals Regulation (EU) 2018/213 on BPA in varnishes and coatings. Its application was subsequently corrected by Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/250, and the Commission has also published a Note for Guidance to support implementation, including clarification on transitional provisions. (EUR-Lex)
Other specific EU acts still relevant in this field include Commission Regulation (EC) No 1895/2005, which restricts the use of certain epoxy derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food; Commission Directive 93/11/EEC, concerning the release of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances from rubber teats and soothers; and Council Directive 78/142/EEC, which limits the presence and migration of vinyl chloride monomer in food contact materials and articles. (EUR-Lex)
Other EU legislation
For products originating in or consigned from China or Hong Kong, Commission Regulation (EU) No 284/2011 establishes specific import conditions for polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware. Since 1 July 2011, consignments must be notified to the competent authorities at the designated entry point at least two working days before arrival, and they must be accompanied by a declaration and a laboratory report showing compliance for primary aromatic amines in polyamide products and formaldehyde in melamine products. (EUR-Lex)
The Commission has also made available supporting documents for these imports, including the EU guidelines for the import of polyamide and melamine kitchenware from China and Hong Kong, an addendum on kitchenware and tableware, technical guidelines on sampling and analytical methods, and a template declaration of compliance.
A further relevant instrument is Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/794, which established a coordinated control plan to assess the prevalence of certain substances migrating from food contact materials. The controls were carried out by Member States in 2019 and 2020, and the results were presented in expert working groups on food contact materials. (EUR-Lex)
National legislation
Where no specific EU measure exists, Member States may maintain or adopt national provisions on food contact materials under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. As a result, national rules exist in many Member States and may differ from one country to another depending on the material or substance concerned.
To map this situation, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre published in 2017 the study Non-harmonised food contact materials in the EU: regulatory and market situation. The study provides a detailed overview of national measures and other applicable approaches for food contact materials not covered by specific EU legislation. (JRC Publications)
The main recent EU measure on specific substances is Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which regulates the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives with harmonised hazardous classifications in certain food contact materials. The Regulation also amends Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 and repeals Regulation (EU) 2018/213 on BPA in varnishes and coatings. Its application was subsequently corrected by Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/250, and the Commission has also published a Note for Guidance to support implementation, including clarification on transitional provisions. (EUR-Lex)
Other specific EU acts still relevant in this field include Commission Regulation (EC) No 1895/2005, which restricts the use of certain epoxy derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food; Commission Directive 93/11/EEC, concerning the release of N-nitrosamines and N-nitrosatable substances from rubber teats and soothers; and Council Directive 78/142/EEC, which limits the presence and migration of vinyl chloride monomer in food contact materials and articles. (EUR-Lex)
Other EU legislation
For products originating in or consigned from China or Hong Kong, Commission Regulation (EU) No 284/2011 establishes specific import conditions for polyamide and melamine plastic kitchenware. Since 1 July 2011, consignments must be notified to the competent authorities at the designated entry point at least two working days before arrival, and they must be accompanied by a declaration and a laboratory report showing compliance for primary aromatic amines in polyamide products and formaldehyde in melamine products. (EUR-Lex)
The Commission has also made available supporting documents for these imports, including the EU guidelines for the import of polyamide and melamine kitchenware from China and Hong Kong, an addendum on kitchenware and tableware, technical guidelines on sampling and analytical methods, and a template declaration of compliance.
A further relevant instrument is Commission Recommendation (EU) 2019/794, which established a coordinated control plan to assess the prevalence of certain substances migrating from food contact materials. The controls were carried out by Member States in 2019 and 2020, and the results were presented in expert working groups on food contact materials. (EUR-Lex)
National legislation
Where no specific EU measure exists, Member States may maintain or adopt national provisions on food contact materials under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004. As a result, national rules exist in many Member States and may differ from one country to another depending on the material or substance concerned.
To map this situation, the Commission’s Joint Research Centre published in 2017 the study Non-harmonised food contact materials in the EU: regulatory and market situation. The study provides a detailed overview of national measures and other applicable approaches for food contact materials not covered by specific EU legislation. (JRC Publications)
