Chinese Quality News Network reports that to assist local packaging enterprises in aligning with the latest EU industry regulations and effectively mitigating foreign trade compliance risks, the Fujian Provincial Market Supervision Bureau, in collaboration with the Xiamen Municipal Market Supervision Bureau, recently organized a specialized compliance training session for plastic and paper packaging companies in Tong'an District, Xiamen.
The training focused on the core requirements for "dual compliance" of domestic and foreign trade packaging products, aiming to provide targeted guidance and help enterprises break down barriers to integrated development in both domestic and international markets. The EU's Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, (EU) 2025/40) will be fully applicable across the EU from August 12, 2026. The new regulations impose fresh compliance demands on exported packaging products, posing significant market access challenges for local packaging exporters.
This training directly addressed the operational pain points of enterprises, concentrating on two key topics: the core requirements of the EU PPWR and the compliance of domestic food contact product labeling. Expert instructors systematically dissected the key provisions of the new regulation, clearly outlined the differences between domestic and international compliance standards, and tailored a compliance adjustment pathway for businesses, effectively resolving their confusion and difficulties in implementing the new rules.
Among the requirements, substance control mandates (total lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium content in packaging must be ≤100 mg/kg, with restricted PFAS in food contact packaging) must be met from August 12, 2026, representing the most immediate market access hurdle. Meanwhile, requirements for recyclability grading, recycled content, and unified labeling will be phased in from 2028 and 2030. Technical experts advised enterprises to initiate compliance upgrades using a "product line review—supply chain restructuring—design optimization" three-step approach, allowing sufficient buffer time to avoid reactive measures later.
Regarding labeling, based on mandatory standards such as GB4806.1, food contact product labels must include core elements: product name (in standard Chinese characters), material composition and proportion, producer information, production date and shelf life, and warning statements, along with the legally required "food contact" mark and corresponding standard number. The training, drawing on recent inspection data, identified three common categories of violations: missing label elements (e.g., only stating "food grade" without specifying the material), non-standard information formatting (e.g., unclear production date location, insufficient font size for warnings), and exaggerated or misleading claims. Technical experts proposed a four-step remediation plan: conduct a comprehensive self-audit of label content, establish a dual review mechanism involving technical and legal teams, assign personnel to dynamically track standard updates, and integrate label compliance into routine quality management systems.
The training, closely tailored to the operational needs of local enterprises, garnered widespread attention and active participation from packaging companies in Tong'an District. Statistics show that 109 companies and 113 representatives attended the session, covering key packaging sectors such as plastic and paper packaging. The training's broad reach and targeted focus provided tangible benefits for the district's packaging export enterprises. Market regulatory authorities have stated that, going forward, they will leverage the "provincial-municipal linkage" technical support team to provide tailored "one-enterprise, one-policy" on-site services for companies in need, focusing on assisting with product compliance pre-assessments and comprehensive label rectifications. This proactive approach aims to ensure the stable and sustainable development of enterprises within the dual domestic and international circulation framework, continuously enhancing quality safety governance efficiency and regional industrial competitiveness.