On September 20, 2022, the European Commission released Regulation (EU) 2022/1616 of September 15, 2022 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The Regulation enter into force on October 10, 2022 and repeals Regulation (EC) No 282/2008. As part of the 2015 circular economy action plan, the Commission identified the increase in plastic recycling as an essential prerequisite for the transition to a circular economy. The Commission therefore adopted in 2018 a strategy for plastics in a circular economy. It strives to increase recycled content in packaging. Food packaging holds a large proportion of plastic packaging, therefore the policy can only achieve its objectives if also the recycled plastic content in food packaging increases. In order to ensure the safety and quality of recycled plastic materials and articles, rules on the placing on the market of those products are laid down in Regulation (EU) 2022/1616.
Europe – Recycled Food Contact Materials Regulation (EU) 2022/1616
