European Commission Corrects BPA Rules for Food Contact Materials and Packaging

Details of the Update

The corrected regulation confirms that BPA is prohibited in the manufacturing of food contact materials and articles placed on the EU market, except where specific derogated applications apply.

For single-use final food contact articles containing BPA, the correction allows first placement on the market until July 20, 2026, while certain categories of packaging benefit from extended transitional deadlines up to January 20, 2028.

For repeat-use food contact articles placed on the market under transitional provisions, continued availability is permitted until July 20, 2027 or January 20, 2029, depending on the product category.

The update also clarifies compliance with documentation requirements, specifying that documentation must identify either intermediate materials or final food contact articles, without the obligation to disclose both.

In addition, analytical verification requirements are refined, requiring methods that confirm the absence of residual BPA at a detection limit of 1 μg/kg, unless otherwise specified.

Feedback Deadline

Not applicable. This correction has been published and applies from February 23, 2026.

Why It Matters

By correcting inconsistencies in the original BPA regulation, the European Commission provides greater regulatory clarity, supports harmonized enforcement, and aligns safety requirements with practical documentation and analytical verification standards. The clarified transitional timelines are designed to help operators transition efficiently while maintaining a high level of consumer safety and minimizing unnecessary regulatory burden.

Who This Is Relevant For

This update is particularly relevant for Regulatory Affairs, Quality Assurance, Compliance, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams involved in the design, production, testing, import, or distribution of food contact materials and packaging within the EU

Next Steps

Business operators should review their product portfolios to identify BPA-containing materials, assess eligibility under transitional provisions, and update compliance documentation to reflect the clarified identification rules. Coordination with suppliers and testing partners is essential to ensure analytical methods meet the revised detection requirements and that all affected products are transitioned before the applicable deadlines.

As regulatory expectations around food contact materials continue to evolve, organizations benefit from proactive visibility into changes and their operational impact. RegASK is a leading agentic AI regulatory intelligence and workflow orchestration platform that empowers global organizations in highly regulated sectors, including consumer products and life sciences, to proactively navigate complex regulatory landscapes. By combining advanced agentic AI with experts in the loop, RegASK delivers timely predictive actionable insights and end-to-end automation, helping teams track BPA-related requirements, manage transitions, and maintain compliance across more than 140 countries. Learn more or book a demo now. 

FAQs

What is the purpose of the European Commission’s correction on BPA?

The correction clarifies definitions, transitional arrangements, and compliance requirements in the existing BPA regulation to address inconsistencies and support harmonized enforcement across the EU.

Is BPA still allowed in food contact materials in the EU?

BPA is generally prohibited in food contact materials and articles placed on the EU market, except for specific derogated applications defined in the regulation.

What are the key deadlines for phasing out BPA-containing food contact articles?

Single-use articles may be placed on the market until July 20, 2026, with certain packaging types allowed until January 20, 2028, while repeat-use articles under transitional rules may remain available until July 20, 2027 or January 20, 2029, depending on category.

How can RegASK support compliance with the corrected BPA regulation?

RegASK helps teams monitor EU regulatory corrections, map requirements to affected products, track transitional deadlines, and streamline documentation and compliance workflows related to BPA and other food contact material regulations.