Codex Committee Reviews Recycled Plastic Safety Guidelines
Global stakeholders are weighing in on proposed standards for recycled plastics used in food contact packaging.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Nutrition
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The Food Packaging Forum has submitted comments on a Codex Alimentarius discussion paper regarding international guidelines for recycled plastic food contact materials. This feedback addresses potential chemical migration risks in both primary and recycled materials.
Why it matters
The organization argues that the current scientific rationale for establishing plastic-specific guidance is insufficient. These discussions will inform whether the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods proceeds with new international standards.
The Food Packaging Forum submitted its technical comments on October 5, 2026, ahead of the 19th meeting of the Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods. Chemical migration risks are currently under review for both primary and recycled plastics.
The players
Food Packaging Forum
This is a non-profit organization that provides independent, scientific information on food packaging safety.
Codex Alimentarius
This is a collection of internationally recognized standards, codes of practice, and guidelines relating to food safety.
European Consumer Organisation
This is a Brussels-based umbrella group that represents various independent consumer organizations from across Europe.
The details
Stakeholders submitted their feedback via the European Consumer Organisation to address a discussion paper originally released by the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Canada. The forum emphasizes that robust scientific evidence is needed to support plastic-specific regulatory frameworks.
Timeline
August 2026: The Codex Alimentarius Commission released the discussion paper.
October 5, 2026: The Food Packaging Forum submitted its comments.
October 19-26, 2026: The Codex Committee on Contaminants in Foods meets in Cairo.
The Big Picture
This effort to standardize recycled plastic safety extends the Codex Alimentarius Commission's international food safety standards. It represents an ongoing attempt to reconcile legacy safety frameworks with the complexities of modern circular economy materials.
While these discussions occur at an international policy level, they will eventually shape the safety requirements for the materials used in food packaging found in your kitchen. Standardizing these regulations aims to minimize chemical exposure from recycled plastics over the long term.
The takeaway
Stakeholders are currently advocating for a more rigorous scientific basis before new global standards for recycled plastics are finalized. Consumers can monitor these developments as they impact the chemical safety protocols of the packaging used for everyday food products.
Further reading
For more information on global food safety standards, visit the Nutrition section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Food Packaging Forum.
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