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Monday 12th May 2025 - PPWR Pre-conference workshop Day one - Tuesday 13th May 2025 Day Two - Wednesday 14th May 2025
PPWR – KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR COMPANY ON A REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SCALE
Workshop speaker: Hazel O'Keeffe, Partner, Keller & Heckman 

The PPWR entered into force on 11 February 2025 and will generally apply from 12 August 2026. It is introducing sweeping changes to how all packaging placed on the market in the EU and how packaging waste is regulated. At this time it is critical for all operators in the supply chain to be aware of their obligations and the timelines to keep in mind for implementing and delegated acts. 

By attending this workshop delegates can delve into the intricacies of PPWR in relation to food contact materials on both a regional and global scale. In-depth analysis and Q & A session will allow you to consider your companies PPWR obligations and the critical timelines that need to be kept in mind.

This workshop, which will take place between 3pm to 5:30pm on Monday, 12 May 2025, will be a deep dive into the PPWR notably

•    Obligations of the different actors in the supply chain including the ‘manufacturer’ (a broadly defined term), ‘supplier’, ‘importer’ and ‘distributor’ 
•    Consider the challenges of the PPWR including with respect to substances of concern, recyclability, recycled content in plastic packaging, packaging minimization, restrictions on packaging formats and re-use and re-fill targets, compostable and bio-based materials
•    Declaration of compliance, technical documentation and enforcement
•    The interplay between the PPWR and other legislation such as the food contact legislation, the Single-use Plastics Directive and Ecodesign Regulation
•    Considerations for Extended Producer Responsibility obligations
•    Environmental labelling and claims
•    The timelines for implementing and delegated acts
•    What is left to the discretion of the EU Member States


Workshop timings

2:45 pm Workshop registration / refreshments
3:00pm Workshop intro
3:15 first talk
4:00 refreshment break
4:15 second talk
5:00 Q&A
5:30 workshop end
 
Registration and welcome refreshments
Smithers welcome
Chair’s welcome
Session 1 : Global outlook and factors impacting FCM regulation
EC European update
Jonathan Briggs | Policy Officer - Food Contact Materials, DG SANTE, European Commission
Global outlook
Dr. Alistair Irvine | Food Contact Compliance, Smithers
Networking refreshment break
FCM regulatory impact on packaging innovation – a global brand perspective
Kimberly Sheehy | Global Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Program Manager, Packaging, Mars Wrigley
US Food Contact Regulation: What to Expect with the Change in Administration
Joe Dages | Partner, Steptoe LLP
Globally harmonising risk assessment for FCMs
Peter Oldring | Regulatory Affairs Manager - Europe, The Sherwin-Williams Company
Networking lunch break
An Overview of the FDA Food Contact Substance Notification Program
Nicole Morris-Anastasi | Regulatory Review Scientist, FDA
The PPWR monster is tamed – how to define packaging requirements in just a few minutes
The PPWR has been passed and will revolutionize the entire packaged products and packaging industry. What at first glance appears to be a change of material reveals major system changes on closer inspection – particularly in the area of transport packaging. Not only will the recycling and recyclate requirements also have a significant impact on food packaging, but completely new cycles and hygiene measures will also have to be implemented to ensure the quality of the raw materials. Today's standards are completely inadequate for this, as a risk analysis by the international organisation for supply chain security ENFIT in 2024 has shown. However, there are many other questions, such as the availability of the necessary recycled content, the requirements for reusability in some industries and packaging scenarios or the recycling rates in individual countries. The first step is to understand what requirements the PPWR places on the packaging. Solutions must then be sought for the scenarios. Last but not least, other national and EU-wide legislation also plays a role and must be taken into account. 
Session 2: Closing the loop and recycled materials in FCM
Recycled Fibres in Food Contact
Vilma Koskenlaine | Regulatory Affairs Manager , Stora Enso
Networking refreshment break
Closing the loop on packaging: Africa’s transition towards a circular economy
Key emerging markets in Africa are now striving to actualize circularity in packaging. Food security, socio-economic challenges, and access to resources are key factors in ensuring sustainable packaging. 
Case studies will highlight challenges and successes achieved in ensuring food contact safety, EPR, and designing for recyclability.
Dr. Nondumiso Mofokeng | Research Scientist, Mpact
Recycled plastic food contact material – Implementing the new EU Regulation
The EU has recently adopted recycled content requirements for plastic food packaging. This highlights the importance of the fundamentally changed EU regime to ensure the safety of recycled plastic food contact material. The presentation will provide an overview of the new regime and share the first-hand experience of a so-called ‘novel technology’ developer with it.
Ken Huestebeck | Policy Director, Styrenics Circular Solutions (SCS)
Chair’s summary and end of day one
17:30 – 19:00 Networking drinks reception
Registration and welcome refreshments
Chair’s welcome
Session 3: Key market legislative updates and how to navigate multi-regional challenges
Dealing with the increased complexity of regulatory compliance. A regulatory affairs perspective from a food company
•    Three dimensions of the Regulatory complexity, a view on current trends.
•    FCM and Circular economy, the extension of the farm-to-fork.
•    The importance of the flow of key information throughout the supply chain, and beyond: the example of EU
Digital Product Passport.
 
Carlos de la Cruz Garcia | Regulatory & Compliance Manager, Nestlé System Technology Centre
Towards Food-Grade rPET in China: Technical Strategies for Safe Applications
•    Differentiation between virgin and recycled PET (v/rPET)
•    Contaminant survey study of rPET in China
•    Proposed surrogate compounds for challenge testing and beyond challenge testing: BPA case study
 
Professor Marco Zhong | Laboratory Director, National reference laboratory for Food Contact Material - IQTC
Japan’s FCM regulations unveiled: positive list revisions and compliance best practices
•    Overview of Japan FCM regulation
•    The key highlight in the latest amendment as per MHLW Notification No. 196 of 2020 including: 
•    Positive list system  (before and after transition period)
•    Declaration of compliance 
•    Key difference with EU Positive List System
•    The latest development of positive list system and test requirement
•    Compliance strategy from raw materials to final products
Nick Cheng | Manager – Food Contact materials, Business Stream Products, Asia Pacific and Greater China Region, TUV Rheinland Japan
Mercosur, Brazil and other regions
Dr. Marisa Padula | Scientific Researcher, CETEA/ITAL (Institute of Food Technology)
Networking refreshment break
Session 4: Materials and chemicals of concern in FCM
Getting ready for the reevaluation of substances used in materials intended to come into contact with drinking water
Rachida Semail | Partner, Keller & Heckman
Interpreting and complying with the "high purity " requirements of substances used in food contact materials
Article 3a introduces a requirement for substances used in plastic materials intended for food contact to meet a high degree of purity. A substance is considered pure if all its constituents match its designated identity and contain only minor levels of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) that comply with strict safety criteria.
To be considered safe, these NIAS must meet one of the following conditions:
1.    They comply with specific restrictions or specifications in Annex I.
2.    They have undergone a risk assessment under Article 19 and been deemed compliant.
3.    They have been evaluated under EFSA toxicological guidelines, confirming no genotoxicity and migration limits below 0.05 mg/kg in food.
4.    If no formal assessment exists, a documented analysis must show they cannot migrate into food above 0.00015 mg/kg.
The speech will discuss the interpretation of the article, the practical feasibility and the Guidelines prepared by EuPC, the European Plastic Converter Association, for the implementation.
Dario Dainelli | Managing Director , PolicyRegulatory LLP
Printing Inks and Pigments, an overview of Global Regulations and their Analytical Challenges
The migration of chemical substances from printing inks and pigments from Food contact materials (FCMs) into food raises critical safety concerns. The presentation gives i) an update on different global regulations (eg Swiss PIO, German PIO and US (FDA 21 CFR)) and ii) an insight on the chemical analysis of inks and pigments used in FCMs, and discusses the challenges posed by the shift toward sustainable packaging solutions.
Inge van Schöll | Senior Project Manager and Scientific Expert, Food-Contact Material team, Triskelion
Networking lunch break
Breaking the Chain: Phasing Out PFAS in Food Delivery Packaging – Challenges and Opportunities
Drawing on a recent study by Systemiq, this session will highlight the urgent need to phase out harmful PFAS in food delivery packaging, discuss regulatory challenges, share case studies from leaders in the space, and present actionable recommendations for businesses and policymakers to phase out PFAS from food delivery packaging.
Sophie Herrmann | Partner, Systemiq
Session 5: Technical advancements and applications
Practical approaches to Food contact compliance for end products
An experience based overview of practical ways to tackle food contact compliance for end products placed on the global market place.
  • The challenge
  • The risks 
  • Practical approaches 
  • Supply chain management 
  • Effective compliance management 
  • Design for compliance

Mark Penton | Machines Regulatory Manager, Lavazza Group
Application case study: food contact compliance of moulded fibre lids
Paula Hirsilä | Product Safety & Compliance Manager, Huhtamaki FFS EAO
Closing the Loop on Polypropylene with Dissolution Recycling
PureCycle commercialized a dissolution technology for the recycling of polypropylene from plastic waste, under exclusive license from Procter & Gamble. The first commercial 49.000 ton/year rPP plant started up in 2023 in Ironton, Ohio, USA. The process produces an ultra-pure rPP-resin that is free of color, odor and contaminants. It can be used in high quality applications including contact-sensitive ones – we have an FDA no objection letter. The first EU plant will be in Antwerp. Our presentation will provide a status update on the Company, the plant in Ironton, our international growth projects, the FDA letter of no objection and on our carbon footprint. We will also put a spotlight on a new global initiative that unites companies and organizations that operate in the dissolution recycling arena.
Wiebe Schipper | Vice President of European Operations, PureCycle
Chair’s summary and end of event

Download 2025 Agenda:

GFC-Agenda-2025-22-4
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