U.K. food agency tells packaging businesses to prepare for diverging BPA rules after Brexit
Drinks producers selling to the EU or Northern Ireland may need to review packaging, coatings and compliance records ahead of key restrictions
2026-06-25
The U.K. Food Standards Agency said Thursday that businesses using food-contact packaging should prepare for the European Union’s rules on bisphenol A, or BPA, and for the different compliance picture now in place between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
In a factsheet published on June 25, the agency set out the current EU framework restricting BPA in food-contact materials and explained how those rules affect the U.K. after Brexit. BPA is a chemical used in the manufacture of some plastics and epoxy resins that can be found in packaging and other materials that touch food.
Under EU Regulation 2018/213, BPA use is restricted in varnishes, coatings and plastic materials intended to come into contact with food. The regulation sets a specific migration limit of 0.05 mg/kg of food and includes tighter limits for products intended for infants and young children. It also bans BPA in materials meant to come into contact with infant formula and baby food.
The agency said the EU rules are intended to reduce exposure to BPA because of potential health concerns. It added that the first key milestone for businesses is July 20, 2026, a date that is likely to shape compliance planning for companies selling into the EU market or operating in Northern Ireland, where relevant EU food-contact rules continue to apply under post-Brexit arrangements.
For Great Britain, the agency said the U.K. has adopted its own legislation to maintain continuity. The Food Contact Materials Regulations 2023 enforce similar restrictions on BPA in materials intended to touch food, according to the FSA.
The update matters for drinks producers because packaging decisions often involve plastic components, internal coatings and closures that may fall within BPA rules. Wine, beer, spirits and soft drinks companies shipping products to the EU or Northern Ireland may need to review supply chains, technical specifications and compliance records ahead of the July deadline, especially where containers or packaging parts rely on epoxy resins or related materials.
The FSA said it will continue to monitor scientific developments and advise if further regulatory changes are needed. It directed stakeholders to official EU and U.K. legislation and its own guidance for further detail.
