Regulations

In the UK, packaging design is increasingly becoming a cost variable. From 2026/27, under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging scheme, the disposal fees charged to large producers for household packaging waste are being modulated according to recyclability. Packaging that is harder to recycle attracts higher fees, while packaging rated as more recyclable can benefit from a discount.

From October 1 through December 31, 2026, food facilities required to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must complete the biennial renewal of their Food Facility Registration. The requirement also applies to foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack, or hold food for consumption in the United States, making the upcoming renewal period directly relevant to many food companies exporting to the U.S. market.

From 27 September 2026, new EU rules against greenwashing introduced by Directive (EU) 2024/825 will apply across the European Union, strengthening consumer protection against misleading commercial practices involving environmental claims.

The new Italian Organic Logo, officially known as the Marchio del biologico italiano, establishes eligibility requirements, application procedures and rules for displaying the logo on packaging and commercial materials. It could also support marketing and communication in international markets by giving producers, distributors and importers an additional tool to highlight the Italian origin of eligible products.

The European Union is simplifying some of the rules governing EU-funded programmes for the promotion of agri-food products. The changes mainly concern the time allowed to conclude contracts, the maximum pre-financing rate and the requirements for reporting programme results.

The precautionary statement "may contain" indicates the possible unintended presence of an allergen that is not part of the product formulation. Its use, however, varies considerably across brands and markets. In some cases, it is supported by a documented risk assessment; in others, it is applied routinely as an additional precaution.

The new EU rules on Listeria monocytogenes strengthen controls on ready-to-eat foods, with important implications for producers, importers and distributors, particularly in categories such as sliced cured meats, dairy products, ready meals, chilled prepared foods and processed fish. The key issues are shelf-life, HACCP, environmental monitoring and technical documentation: essential elements for ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance and trust in business relationships with buyers, retailers and international markets that increasingly focus on quality and documented supplier traceability.

From 30 December 2026, the EU Regulation on deforestation-free products, known as the EUDR, will start to apply to large and medium operators. For most micro and small operators, application is scheduled for 30 June 2027.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has published the updated 2026 guidance agenda for its Human Foods Program, outlining the guidance documents under development and the priority areas of interest for the food sector. The document confirms an increasingly clear direction from U.S. regulators, with growing attention to ingredients, food and color additives, chemical contaminants and substances used in food contact materials.

The EU has introduced new guidance for managing emergencies linked to transmissible animal diseases. This is an important issue - also in public debate - for the safety of food supply chains, especially in the meat and animal-derived products. The new European guidance aims to clarify operational steps relating to controls, restrictions, movements and restocking.

With the publication of the new interpretative guidance and the FAQs on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the European Commission has clarified several points that had remained only partially defined for food companies, importers, exporters and packaging suppliers. The aim is to make some practical aspects easier to understand: who is actually responsible, which obligations start in 2026, which ones will apply later, and which areas already require technical documentation and internal checks.

The new agreement reached in Brussels on the use of terms traditionally associated with meat should not be seen as a purely terminological issue. For companies producing and distributing plant-based meat alternatives, it is a development that affects labels, packaging, commercial materials and product presentation across the supply chain. At the same time, the plant-based sector has already been moving away from these names for some time, in response to market shifts and changing consumer preferences.

In recent days, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an important update on the Food Traceability Rule, the section of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) focused on food traceability under Section 204, with more time now available for compliance. Below is an overview of the requirements, timeline and practical tools that matter for producers, brands and distributors across the supply chain.

Single-serve capsules are now widely used at home and across many food service businesses, but end-of-life management is still complex. This is mainly because capsules often combine multiple materials and contain organic coffee residues, which makes recycling harder. The new EU regulation (PPWR) aims to make packaging easier to collect and recycle, introducing shared rules on design, labeling, and producer responsibility.

The European Parliament has approved a new regulation that strengthens the fight against unfair trading practices in the agri-food supply chain when supplier-buyer relationships involve multiple countries. Specifically, we look at which behaviours are being addressed (from late payments to unilateral contract changes, through to promotions costs imposed without agreement) and what changes thanks to more coordinated investigations and checks among national authorities.

The European Union is taking a significant step toward establishing a dedicated regulatory framework for New Genomic Techniques (NGTs), also referred to as Assisted Evolution Techniques (TEA). After months of negotiations and a prolonged institutional deadlock, the European Parliament and the EU Council have announced a political agreement that will allow these technologies to be applied across various agricultural sectors.

The European Union is preparing a package of measures that could have a notable impact on the food industry and distribution chains. Among them is the introduction of a specific tax on ultra-processed foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), as well as on certain alcoholic beverages, including alcopops. The stated goal is to discourage the consumption of products considered harmful to cardiovascular health and promote healthier eating habits. For producers, distributors and food & beverage brands, this policy may also lead to changes in product formulation, positioning and commercialization strategies.

The European Union and Indonesia have signed an economic partnership agreement that creates new opportunities for the food industry. Gradual tariff reductions and streamlined procedures are designed to facilitate trade, while introducing clearer and more transparent rules for participating businesses.

Driven by the new European sustainability directives, the food packaging industry is moving toward increasingly innovative and responsible solutions. A recent study has validated the effectiveness and safety of a new type of biodegradable packaging that not only extends the shelf life of strawberries but also helps significantly reduce microbial growth.

The European Commission is preparing a new regulation to standardize the use of claims such as "zero alcohol", "alcohol free" and "low alcohol" on products sold across the EU. This initiative has become necessary due to the rapid growth of this segment, driven by the increasing consumer demand for beverages with reduced or no alcohol content.