EU curbs on 'forever chemicals' in food packaging kick in

New EU restrictions on toxic substances known as 'forever chemicals' in food packaging kicked in on Wednesday, along with broader rules on cutting packaging waste across the bloc, according to The Local Italy. The measures target per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals prized for their resistance to heat, water and grease but linked to environmental persistence and health concerns.

The rules apply to materials that come into contact with food, a category that sits at the heart of Emilia-Romagna's industrial identity. The region is home to a dense cluster of packaging machinery manufacturers, many of them based in the Bologna and Modena areas, whose customers supply food producers across Europe and beyond.

For the region's food exporters, the change adds a new compliance layer to an already complex trade environment. Parmigiano-Reggiano, prosciutto di Parma and aceto balsamico tradizionale all travel in packaging that must now meet stricter standards, and foreign buyers are likely to scrutinise the new requirements as they negotiate contracts.

The EU's move is part of a broader regulatory push on packaging waste that has been building for years. The new rules on 'forever chemicals' are the most concrete step yet, and they land at a moment when Italian food producers are already navigating post-Brexit trade friction with the UK and the bloc's own Farm to Fork sustainability agenda.

For Emilia-Romagna's packaging machinery sector, the regulation is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it imposes design changes on machines that currently handle materials containing PFAS. On the other, it creates a market opportunity: the region's manufacturers are among the world's leading producers of high-speed packaging lines, and they are well positioned to sell the new generation of compliant machinery that food companies will need.

The region's cooperative movement, which controls many of its largest food processing firms, has historically been quick to adopt quality and safety standards ahead of regulatory deadlines. Foreign press coverage of Italian food has often noted this pattern, pointing to the cooperatives' role in building the reputation of products like Parmigiano-Reggiano on world markets.

The timing is notable. The rules take effect during the peak summer production season, when many food plants are running at full capacity to supply both the domestic Ferragosto holiday market and export orders. Producers will need to verify their existing packaging stocks meet the new standards, and any shortfall could create bottlenecks.

The broader packaging waste rules that accompanied Wednesday's change are also relevant to the region's recycling infrastructure. Emilia-Romagna has one of Italy's most developed separate waste collection systems, and the new EU targets for recyclable packaging will test whether that infrastructure can be extended to the new materials that compliant packaging will require.