PPWR – Regulation (EU) 2025/40 and the New Requirements for Packaging
The European Union has adopted Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR), representing one of the most significant regulatory changes in the field of packaging in recent years. Unlike the previous directive, this regulation is directly applicable in all EU Member States, with most of its provisions becoming applicable from 12 August 2026.
The new regulation applies to all packaging placed on the EU market, regardless of its material or intended use. It introduces stricter requirements regarding packaging composition, recyclability, reusability, and the presence of certain hazardous substances. Its objective is to reduce packaging waste, improve product safety, and promote the circular economy.
Which substances are the focus of the new regulation?
The new legislation places particular emphasis on restricting substances that may pose a risk to human health or the environment.
Among the most important are:
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly referred to as "forever chemicals", which accumulate in the environment and living organisms due to their persistence. New limit values have been introduced for PFAS in food contact packaging.
Lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) – the combined concentration of these heavy metals in packaging must not exceed 100 mg/kg.
Other substances that may migrate from packaging into food or hinder the safe use and recycling of packaging materials.
For manufacturers and importers, this means greater responsibility when selecting raw materials, developing packaging solutions, and demonstrating product compliance.
Laboratory analyses as the key of compliance assessment
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 places greater emphasis on the chemical composition of packaging and the safety of food contact materials. In this context, laboratory testing plays a crucial role in assessing product compliance with regulatory requirements and verifying product safety.
Depending on the type of packaging and materials used, laboratory analyses may include the determination of regulated substances, migration testing, and the evaluation of other parameters relevant to the quality and safety of packaging materials.
Our packaging testing services
At Sample Control Laboratory, we offer a comprehensive range of analytical services that help packaging manufacturers, the food industry, and importers comply with Regulation (EU) 2025/40.
Our services include:
PFAS analysis in packaging and food contact materials
Overall and specific migration testing for food contact materials
Heavy metal determination
MOSH/MOAH analysis
BPA and other specific migration analyses
NIAS screening (Non-Intentionally Added Substances)
Expert support in result interpretation and demonstrating compliance with European regulatory requirements.
Preparing for the new requirements
Regulation (EU) 2025/40 introduces significant changes in the field of packaging and food contact materials, laying the foundation for a higher level of consumer and environmental protection. Monitoring regulatory developments and applying appropriate analytical methods will play an important role in ensuring the quality and safety of packaging materials in the years ahead.
New Dumas Protein Analyzer at the Sample Control Laboratory
The Sample Control Laboratory has further enhanced its analytical capabilities with the acquisition of a new instrument for protein determination using the Dumas method. The introduction of this modern analytical equipment enables even faster, more accurate, and more efficient protein analysis in various types of samples, primarily food products.
Presence and contamination of meat with perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) compounds
Perfluoroethyl compounds (PFAS) is a collective term for a very large group of fluorinated compounds, including oligomers and polymers, consisting of neutral and anion surface active compounds with high heat, chemical and biological inertness. Perfluorinated compounds are generally hydrophobic but also lipophobic and therefore will not accumulate in fat tissues as is usually the case with other persistent halogenated compounds. An important subgroup are (per) fluorinated organic surfactants, including perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane acid (PFOA). For PFOS and PFOA, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) established a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for humans of 150 ng/kg body weight and 1.5 μg/kg body weight per day (EFSA 2008).