EU Revises Transitional Measures for Certain Food Contact Plastics

SafeGuardSHardgoodsNovember 20, 2025

SG 168/25

The European Union (EU) has updated transitional measures for food contact plastics made with salicylic acid or untreated wood flour and fibers.

In 2023, the EU published Regulation (EU) 2023/1442 to delist food contact material (FCM) substance Nos. 96 (untreated wood flour and fibers) and 121 (salicylic acid) from the positive list under Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on food contact plastics (Food Contact Plastics Regulation). Among the transitional measures in the amendment, food contact plastics manufactured with these substances may continue to be first placed on the market after February 1, 2025, but are subject to defined conditions, including the submission of an application for authorization before August 1, 2024 (SafeGuardS 89/23).

On November 6, 2025, the EU issued Commission Regulation (EU) 2025/2240 to revise the transitional measures for food contact plastics made with these two substances. Under the new law, food contact plastics made with either of these two substances may continue to be first placed on the market between February 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, but remain subject to defined conditions, including the submission of an application for authorization before August 1, 2024.

Food contact plastics complying with the Food Contact Plastics Regulation before the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2023/1442 may continue to be first placed on the market after January 31, 2026, provided the application for authorization is considered valid by that date.

Regulation (EU) 2025/2240 will enter into force on November 26, 2025, and apply retroactively from February 1, 2025.

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