EU legislation: Food contact materials

Food contact materials are all materials and articles that come directly into contact with food products or are intended to come into contact with them. Examples are: packaging materials, bottles (plastic and glass), containers cutlery, dishes, domestic appliances (e.g. coffee makers) and adhesives and inks for printing labels.

The EU has laid down strict requirements aiming to avoid that dangerous substances used in the manufacture of food contact materials are transferred to food.

A framework Regulation lays down general requirements for food contact materials. More specific legislation also exists for:

• certain materials: active and intelligent materials and articles, plastics, regenerated cellulose film and ceramics
• individual substances: Bisphenol A, vinyl chloride monomer, N-nitrosamines and BADGE, BFDGE and NOGE in plastics, coatings and adhesives.
 
This document presents an overview of the EU legislation and also practical information on how to comply with the EU requirements. 

Please note that not all food contact materials are regulated on EU level. If not regulated in the EU, EU Member States may have established national legislation. For more information on the additional legislation of a specific Member State, it is recommended have a look at the document Member States overview: Implementation of EU legislation on food contact materials.

EU Member State legislation

Relevant Market Sectors

Coffee, tea and cocoa, Fishery products, Food ingredients, Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, Honey, beewax and sugars, Natural colours, flavours and thickeners, Organic food products, Preserved Fruit and Vegetables, Processed fruits, vegetables and nuts, Rice and pulses, Spices and Herbs, Vegetable oils and fats, Wine