Regulation (EU) 2024/590 — universal PFAS restriction. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restriction under REACH Annex XVII, adopted as Regulation (EU) 2024/590, prohibits the manufacture, use, and placing on the market of all intentionally added PFAS substances (defined as substances containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene group) in food-contact materials. The food-contact packaging use category becomes enforceable on 12 August 2026; the broader all-PFAS ban (textiles, cosmetics, etc.) is staged through 2027.
What counts as "PFAS" in our B2B catalogue. A 2026 screen of WanLong's food-contact products shows the following exposure:
| Product line | PFAS source (where present) | Compliant substitute (certified) | Cost delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parchment / baking paper (silicone-coated) | Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) — non-PFAS; pre-2026 PFAS grades still in some supplier lines | PDMS silicone or unbleached kraft + plant-wax (carnauba) | +6% to +12% |
| Aluminium foil containers (bakery, take-out) | None — pure Al is PFAS-free; however release coatings (PTFE, FEP) for sticky foods must be removed | Bare Al + parchment liner; or PLA-coated board | −2% (bare Al) to +18% (PLA board) |
| Silicone stretch lids / baking mats | None — platinum-cured silicone is PFAS-free; PFS (perfluorinated) "non-stick" grades must be removed | Platinum-cured silicone (LFGB §31 compliant); or unbleached linen baking mat | Flat to +4% |
| Greaseproof / fast-food wraps | Historically treated with short-chain PFAS (PFOA, PFHxS) for oil repellence | APEO-free & PFAS-free; treat with chitosan, alum, or beeswax; or use PLA-coated kraft | +22% to +35% |
| Coffee filters (paper) | None in unbleached; some bleached grades use PFAS-treated wet-strength additives | Oxygen-bleached or TCF (totally chlorine-free) paper; EN 13432 compostability | +8% |
Substitute performance data — grease resistance. The KIT (kit test) oil-resistance rating of PFAS-free wraps has improved dramatically. Hexis Lda.'s 2025 trial data shows chitosan-coated kraft achieves KIT 9–10 (vs KIT 12 for legacy PFAS grades) — sufficient for 90% of bakery and take-out applications. For high-fat foods (fried chicken, burgers), PLA-coated board or double-ply unbleached kraft is now industry default among EU QSR brands.
Verification protocols for 2026. Compliance must be demonstrated through: (a) supplier REACH SVHC declaration confirming the article contains < 0.1% by weight of any Annex XVII-listed PFAS; (b) EN 1186 migration testing on finished food-contact articles; (c) for compostable claims, EN 13432 / NF T51-800 report with PFAS-specific testing to PFAS-EAL Limit 25 ng/L (per ECHA restriction dossier). WanLong's standard paperwork for EU shipments includes all three since 1 June 2026.
What's next. In Q4 2026, ECHA will publish a PFAS use-specific Q&A document addressing borderline cases (e.g. PFAS used in manufacturing equipment as processing aids, not intentionally added to the article). Until then, buyers should request explicit non-intentionally-added PFAS statements and a 12-month testing history per supplier. Source: ECHA REACH restriction list (Restriction 50); Regulation (EU) 2024/590; ECHA Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) opinion 2023.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/590 (PFAS REACH restriction); ECHA RAC/AEOC joint opinion 2023; EN 1186:2024 migration testing standard; EN 13432:2000 industrial compostability; OECD/UNEP PFAS guidance 2024
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