From São Paulo to Singapore the rules that govern food and beverage packaging are always changing. For many companies, keeping track of this mosaic, and translating it into actionable design criteria, can be quite the task.
The Food Packaging Forum (FPF) has been summarizing Q1 and Q2 2025 regulatory and waste management updates from around the world. Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard stakeholders may find the information useful. This article includes FPF’s updates from South and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and South America.
The UP Scorecard currently includes regional specifications for waste management data from Europe and North America to create metrics comparing food contact articles. In the future, UP Scorecard will hopefully include more geographies, such as those outlined below, to turn scattered waste management updates into clear, comparative metrics that let packaging teams get ahead of the curve.
The UP Scorecard uses robust, geographically diverse data about collection systems, recycling capacities, and real-world end-of-life outcomes. We therefore welcome further engagement from regulators, academics, NGOs, and industry partners who can help to:
- Broaden geographic coverage. If you have insight into waste management in under-represented markets, please share your documentation and local knowledge.
- Contribute infrastructure data. Municipal recycling rates, material-flow studies, facility registries, or cost models all strengthen the Scorecard’s ability to benchmark performance accurately.
- Support the initiative. In-kind technical expertise, pilot projects, and direct financial contributions accelerate methodological updates and keep the tool freely accessible.
To explore collaboration, contact us at info@upscorecard.org. Together we can support clear design guidance and move the packaging sector decisively toward a safer, circular future.
The following information comes from a Food Packaging Forum article series reviewing global regulatory and waste management updates from Q1 and Q2 2025. For a full list of references, read the original articles.
India
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is currently accepting comments on its revised Guide on Suitability of Plastics for Food Packaging. According to BIS, “[t]his standard covers primarily various thermoplastics singly or in combination which are considered suitable for direct food contact applications. This standard provides a general guidance to the food packer in selecting the specific thermoplastic material, singly or in combination, to design an acceptable food packaging system.” The document was last revised in 1999; major updates include that “[t]hermoplastics such as Vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate and Nitrocellulose have been deleted for use in direct contact with the food because of health [and] safety related concerns.”
Effective March 28, 2025, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) amended packaging regulations to allow recycled PET in food packaging. This follows earlier 2022 amendments on migration limits for phthalates and metals (FPF reported).
Indonesia
Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM) officially notified the WTO in November 2024 of a new food contact material regulation covering all major material groups. It sets overall and specific migration limits, a positive list and banned substances, with a compliance period up to 12 months postpromulgation. The final document looks to be the same as the draft regulation published in October 2023 (FPF reported).
In parallel, the Ministry of Industry enacted Regulation No. 6 of 2025, on January 24, 2025. It mandates the new Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 8218:2024 for paper and cardboard primary food packaging developed by the National Standardization Agency in 2024. The previous standard was developed in 2015. Regulation No. 6 also includes quality standards (ISO 9001), and declaration of conformity (e.g., DoC in the EU) requirements. It comes into force on July 24, 2025.
Singapore
Singapore has advanced regulatory oversight of food-contact materials and packaging waste with two major developments. The Food Safety and Security Bill, passed in January 2025, provides the legal foundation for regulating food contact articles, enabling future bans on hazardous substances and allowing authorities to order product recalls. It replaces the Sale of Food Act of 1973. Components of the new bill will go into effect between late 2025 and 2028.
Meanwhile, under the Resource Sustainability Act 2019, large businesses were required to submit their 2024 packaging data and 3R plans by March 31, 2025. These measures support a broader national strategy toward extended producer responsibility (EPR) and sustainable packaging use outlined in a Parliamentary Act in 2019.
Thailand
Chemical Watch reports that Thailand’s Ministry of Industry plans to “start regulating food contact paper… as controlled goods by the end of this year.” There are concerns of “low-quality goods potentially containing excessive levels of heavy metals and chemicals” (FPF reported, also here).
Thailand has increased its focus on food contact material related standards in recent years (FPF reported).
Additionally, according to reporting from The Guardian, as of January 1, 2025, Thailand completely stopped importing plastic waste to curb pollution. This is in line with goals laid out in late 2022 (FPF reported).
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
The South American trade bloc MERCOSUR has taken action on several food contact material (FCM) related resolutions so far in 2025.
Resolution No. 02/25 amends Resolution No. 40/15, updating technical regulations on cellulosic materials in contact with food. One key revision within the amendment: recycled-fiber articles must keep diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN, 38640-62-9) “as low as technically feasible.”
Resolution No. 28/24 amends the positive list for food-contact plastics (GMC Res. 02/12) with two new substances. The resolution passed in December 2024 and began being enforced in early 2025.
- Diglycidyl ether of tetramethyl bisphenol F (TMBPFDGE, CAS 113693-69-9) for beverage can coatings (with specific migration limits)
- Polyamide-Imide 2 (PAI2) for high-temp cookware coatings (limited to 60 µm thickness, ≤230 °C or short term 250 °C)
MERCOSUR published documents from the November 2024 meeting in February 2025. Those documents include Draft Resolution 07/24, which proposes updated regulation of post-consumer recycled PET packaging. This includes facility registration/documentation similar to EU standards and consideration of using chemically recycled starting materials. Paraguay is still reviewing the proposal.
Chile
According to Ricardo Chemical Solutions, Chile mandates GHS classification and labelling for all industrial and consumer products. The country is currently adding chemicals registration similar to the EU’s REACH regulation. Under Chilean Decree 57/2019 the government is requiring substance notifications in four batches. Hazardous substances for non-industrial use need to be registered by August 30, 2025.
Hazardous substances for industrial use should have already been registered in 2024. The deadline for hazardous substances in mixtures for industrial use is in 2027, and for non-industrial use in 2029.
Peru
In late 2024 Peru published a Draft Technical Regulation on recyclable and biodegradable plastic tableware. Targets include banning oxo-degradable plastics, restricting hazardous substances including heavy metals, requiring monomaterials for better recyclability, transparency in content and traceability, and proper labeling (e.g., “RECICLABLE”). Consultations will likely continue in 2025.
Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda
In April and May 2025, the five fully participating members of the East African Community, a trading block, officially notified the World Trade Organization of several new standards related to food contact articles and materials. Each includes requirements, sampling, test methods, and any exceptions.
- DEAS 1256: 2024, Plastic cup — Specification, First Edition
- DEAS 1255: 2024, Baby pacifier/soother — Specification, First Edition
- DEAS 1257:2024, Plastic plate — Specification, First Edition
- DEAS 1259:2025 Paper Aluminium Foil Laminate for Packaging — Specification
Egypt
On March 2, 2025, Egypt introduced an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for plastic shopping bags. Under Prime Minister’s Decree No. 662 of 2025, manufacturers and importers must track production, report sales, and pay a fee of EGP 37.5/kg plastic sold in local markets to go towards the collection and safe disposal of the bags.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia’s parliament passed a law on June 2, 2025, to phase out some single use plastics. According to reporting from the Ethiopian Business Review, “[t]he new law prohibits the importation and production of single-use plastics, particularly targeting plastic bags with a thickness of less than 0.03 millimeters… [As well as] disposable plastic items such as bags, bottles, straws, and wrappers.” The law was unanimously passed but there was debate about part of the law that implements a fine for being caught using plastic bags, says borkena.
Ghana
Modern Ghana reports that as part of World Environment Day celebrations on June 5, 2025, President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, announced plans to ban the import, manufacture, and use of polystyrene foam containers for food.
Israel
Effective January 1, 2025, Israel adopted over 40 import standards from the European Union related to food and agricultural products. Alignment includes EU regulations and directives for food contact materials as a group, as well as plastics, cellulose film, epoxy, rubber, and active and intelligent materials.
Kenya
Kenya’s new mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulation came into effect on May 5, 2025. According to Legal Notice No. 176 of 2024, the Sustainable Waste Management Act, manufacturers and importers of packaging and some other products must now manage their goods through the full lifecycle of the product, including collection and recycling.
Additionally, in late 2024, the Kenyan government passed Legal Notice 181 of 2024, the Environmental Management and Coordination (Management and Control of Plastic Packaging Materials) Regulations, outlining new obligations for the labeling of plastic packaging in the country. Plastic packaging must now display details like producer contact info, resin codes, and recycled content percentages in order to be authorized for manufacture, import, sale, or export in the country.
Nigeria
A nationwide ban on plastic straws, cutlery, sachets, bottles, and expanded polystyrene came into effect in January 2025. In June 2024, the announcement came out that the ban would be nationwide beginning 2025 but according to reporting from The Guardian, not all were sure if the public was prepared.
Local governments and government offices were phasing out single use plastics throughout 2024 (FPF reported).
United Arab Emirates
The second phase of Dubai’s three-part single-use plastics ban came into effect on January 1, 2025. A municipal ban on polystyrene food containers, plastic straws, stirrers, cups, and table covers is now in effect. In 2024 the ban started with single use plastic bags and in 2026, according to Sustainable Plastics, it will include “other single-use plastic products including plastic plates, plastic food containers, plastic tableware, and beverage cups and their plastic lids.”
Shared with permission from the Food Packaging Forum.
References
Lindsey Parkinson (June 18, 2025). “2025 regulatory and waste management updates from Africa and the Middle East.” Food Packaging Forum.
Lindsey Parkinson (June 12, 2025). “2025 regulatory and waste management updates from south and southeast Asia.” Food Packaging Forum.
Lindsey Parkinson (June 23, 2025). “2025 regulatory and waste management updates from South America.” Food Packaging Forum.
