Key Takeaways from the Food Contact Asia Conference 2025

This blog was originally posted on 28th July, 2025. Further regulatory developments may have occurred after publication. To keep up-to-date with the latest compliance news, sign up to our newsletter.

AUTHORED BY LYNN CHIAM, REGULATORY COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST, COMPLIANCE & RISKS

After attending the Food Contact Asia Virtual Conference, hosted on 16-17 July 2025, I gained valuable insights on food contact materials (herein referred to as FCMs) regulations on a global scale.

In this blog, I cover the following key themes from the conference:

Global regulatory Food Contact Materials updates
Growing emphasis on sustainability and recycling
Managing chemicals of concern

What Are the Major Food Contact Materials Global Regulatory Updates You Need to Know?

The first key theme focuses on FCMs regulatory frameworks that are undergoing or have undergone revisions worldwide, with a clear focus on stricter controls and more comprehensive safety assessments.

Food Contact Materials Updates in China

China is actively updating its GB Standards on Food Safety. Key changes include revisions to migration testing (GB 31604.1-2023), testing methods (GB 31604 series), new materials for food contact articles (GB 4806 series), and the updated list of additives permitted for use in FCMs (GB 9685 Amendment No. 1).
China is also awaiting the release of the new Food Safety Standard on silicone rubber materials and products for food contact use (GB 4806.XX) and migration determination of Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether (BADGE, etc) (GB 31604.XX).
Additionally, the draft revision of the standard GB 9685 has been released, and it clarifies the principles of use, scope of use and introduces the bring-in principle and adds new substances in Annex A.
China is also exploring regulations on recycled PET (rPET) as it has not been approved for food-grade applications, and the revision of GB 4806.1 is expected to enter a new phase by next year.

Food Contact Materials Updates in the European Union

The EU released the recent amendments to the existing FCM regulations, with a significant regulation on BPA (EU) 2024/3190 specifying the prohibition on the use of BPA in the manufacture of FCMs and regulation on plastic FCMs (EU) 2025/351 setting new requirements for substances and labelling obligations.
The EU is pushing towards adopting a framework to regulate more classes of materials.

Food Contact Materials Updates in the United States

New food contact substances (FCS) are mainly authorized through the Food Contact Notification (FCN) program.
The US States enact different laws concerning the PFAS in food contact materials. On a federal level, PFAS is authorized as a food contact substance in 21 CFR. However, the PFAS uses in paper and cardboard packaging are no longer effective as per 21 CFR 170.105. Currently, there are 13 States that have restricted the use of PFAS in food packaging. States do not have a single, harmonized definition of “PFAS” or what constitutes an “intentionally added” substance. As the state laws are inconsistent, businesses must carefully identify what each law requires.

Food Contact Materials Updates in Japan & South Korea

Japan has updated its Positive List for Synthetic Resins, which became effective in mid-2025.
South Korea has banned the use of certain PFAS in food utensils, containers and packaging (Standards and Specifications for Food Utensils, Containers and Packages, Notice No. 2020-43) and is continuously updating its standards for utensils, containers and packaging, including specific criteria for recycled materials.

How Does Sustainability Influence the Practical Challenges of Using Recycled Materials in Food Packaging?

This theme centers around sustainability, with a strong focus on the practical challenges of using recycled materials in food packaging.

Recycled PET (rPET)

The use of rPET is a cornerstone of sustainability efforts, but ensuring its safety from potential contaminants remains a paramount concern.
The EU has established a regulation for recycled plastics in FCMs (EU 2022/1616), which addresses the strict safety requirements for recycled plastics in FCMs and mandates the use of suitable recycling technologies.
Recycled plastic FCMs must undergo the “challenge test” to evaluate the decontamination efficiency of the recycling process.

Chemical vs. Mechanical Recycling

The conference explored both mechanical and chemical recycling. While mechanical recycling is dominant, chemical recycling is seen as a promising solution for producing food-contact-approved materials from mixed plastic waste.

Panelist Discussions

The panel discussion brought together industry leaders for a conversation encompassing this theme. A major point of debate was whether the intense regulatory focus on environmental issues was overshadowing the ultimate mission of ensuring food safety. While one panellist argued that what is good for the environment is ultimately good for the food industry, another argued that environmentally friendly materials require rigorous safety assessments, ensuring that they do not pose a risk to consumers.
The discussion also highlighted that there is an urgent need for globally recognized, standardized tests to approve recycled materials for food contact and build trust across the supply chain.

For further insights into sustainability developments in Asia, check out our recent webinar on Asia’s ESG & Sustainability Landscape: Compliance Essentials for 2025.

What Are the Key Considerations in the Management of Chemicals of Concern?

Regulators are increasingly targeting specific chemicals, demanding more sensitive detection methods and forcing a shift towards safer alternatives.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

Also known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are being aggressively regulated. There are widespread state-level bans on PFAS in food packaging in the US and the prohibition of PFAS in FCMs in South Korea.

For more information on the challenges of PFAS worldwide, explore our whitepaper PFAS Under Pressure: Key Trends and Challenges Worldwide.

BPA (Bisphenol A)

The new EU regulation (EU) 2024/3190 imposes a strict ban on BPA and other bisphenols in FCMs, with a phased transition period.
This is expected to have a ripple effect on global supply chains, with countries like South Korea and China closely monitoring the situation and considering their future policies.

NIAS (Non-Intentionally Added Substances)

There is a growing focus on identifying and assessing the risks of NIAS, which are impurities or reaction by-products in final FCMs. This demands advanced analytical capabilities and a shift in focus from raw materials to the safety of the final article.

Want the latest news on permitted, restricted and prohibited substances in a variety of products from around the world? Check out our Chemicals Quarterly webinar series.

Conclusion

The Food Contact Asia Virtual Conference highlighted that the global food contact materials industry is at a critical juncture. The three central themes – evolution of regulatory frameworks, growing emphasis on sustainability and recycling, and the intensified focus on managing chemicals of concern are not just trends – they are fundamental shifts.

For businesses operating in this space, staying ahead requires constant monitoring, proactive adaptation to new regulations and a commitment to integrating sustainable practices while ensuring product safety.

By availing of the best regulatory horizon scanning tools to stay on top of existing and emerging regulatory changes, the industry can respond to the changes effectively and build a safer and more sustainable future for food contact materials worldwide.

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