From 12 August 2026, only food contact packaging with restricted levels of PFAS substances will be permitted on the market. Polish companies are already preparing for these changes, seeking information and answers to the many questions surrounding the new regulations.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are resistant to water, grease, and dirt. Consequently, they are widely used in the production of coatings for cookware, kitchen utensils, manufacturing machinery, and release coatings for packaging. Their specific chemical structure ensures high chemical and physical stability, as well as low susceptibility to degradation.

“Unfortunately, EU monitoring has confirmed that these compounds contaminate flora and fauna, and migrate into food and drinking water, posing a potential threat to human health. Certain PFAS are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic for reproduction — including effects on or via lactation — and exhibit organ toxicity,” explains Patrycja Wojciechowska, PhD, DSc, Eng., Professor at UEP and expert at the Natureef Association. “PFAS contain carbon–fluorine bonds, which are among the strongest in organic chemistry. This means they resist breakdown both during use and after release into the environment, leading to bioaccumulation and long-term environmental persistence. Furthermore, most PFAS spread easily, travelling significant distances from the point of emission.”

An inevitable consequence of PFAS presence in food contact materials (FCMs) is consumer exposure. Due to the lack of threshold values for PFAS-related hazards, exposure resulting from food contact with such materials represents an unacceptable risk to human health. Therefore, it is essential to limit the presence of PFAS in food packaging. This is the objective of Article 5 of the EU PPWR (Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) – Regulation (EU) 2025/40 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 December 2024 on packaging and packaging waste, amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1020 and Directive (EU) 2019/904, and repealing Directive 94/62/EC. Under this regulation, from 12 August 2026, food contact packaging containing strictly defined or higher levels of PFAS may not be placed on the EU market. The PPWR establishes safety thresholds for individual substances and total PFAS content, while also mandating that manufacturers and importers provide — in specific cases — proof regarding the concentration of fluorine.

“PFAS substances have been a focal point for the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for years, and not just within the packaging industry. On 20 August 2025, ECHA published an updated proposal for a REACH restriction (Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) regarding the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The document was jointly prepared by authorities from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. It incorporates over 5,600 comments from the 2023 public consultation and includes additional analyses for eight sectors, including medical, military, textile, and industrial. Alongside a total ban, alternative restriction options were considered, allowing for the continued use of PFAS under strictly controlled conditions,” says Dr Patrycja Wojciechowska.

“What do these upcoming changes mean for packaging and food companies? How should the limits and obligations set out in Article 5 of the PPWR be interpreted? How can businesses practically prepare for the regulations effective from 12 August? We are receiving numerous enquiries from Polish companies regarding these issues,” says Jaśmina Solecka, President of the Natureef Association, an organisation representing leading packaging and food producers in Poland.

“Answers will be provided by experts during a Natureef webinar on 10 February. The event will feature specialists from European industry organisations and companies collaborating with our association:
Brecht Van Der Hoeven from Pack4Food, Christopher McElroy from LGC Group (also representing the ScreenFood project), Pieter Samyn from SIRRIS, and Tomasz Trąd from SGS Polska.

The webinar, dedicated to the practical implications of the PPWR and PFAS-related issues, is aimed at packaging manufacturers, processors, and end-users. It will also bring together leading experts from Polish research institutes and industry representatives.”

Participation in the Natureef webinar on PFAS is free of charge. However, registration is required via the Natureef website: https://natureef.pl/webinar-natureef-ppwr-and-pfas/. The online meeting will be conducted in English.

The event is organised as part of the BeFORE project: “Impact of the forming and packaging process on innovative and recyclable, high-barrier plastic and paper packaging materials”, co-financed by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR) under the 37th CORNET initiative.