BPA in food contact materials: EU rules and UK implications
Explains EU rules on BPA in food contact materials, including application in Northern Ireland, and outlines the current legal position in Great Britain.
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales
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About this information guide
This guide provides factual information to help UK businesses understand:
- EU BPA requirements where these apply; and
- the current legal position in GB
This guide does not introduce new legal obligations and is not a substitute for the applicable legislation. Businesses should ensure they refer to the relevant legislation where appropriate.
Geographic applicability of the requirements
For the purposes of this guide:
- EU legislation applies to EU market and to NI under the Windsor Framework.
- In GB (England, Wales and Scotland), EU BPA restrictions do not currently apply.
Businesses placing relevant products on the EU or NI market must comply with the EU BPA Regulation, including the first key compliance deadline of 20 July 2026.
Separate arrangements apply to certain pre‑packed retail goods moving from GB to NI under the Northern Ireland Retail Movement Scheme (NIRMS). Businesses using these arrangements should refer to relevant UK Government guidance on their application.
For the GB domestic market, EU BPA restrictions do not apply directly. The current legal position remains unchanged unless and until domestic legislation is introduced.
Purpose of this information guide
This guide is intended to:
- provide information on EU BPA Regulation where these apply to the EU or NI market, including relevant timelines
- support business awareness and planning in the context of potential future changes in GB
This guide does not set out compliance requirements for the GB domestic market.