What the stricter requirements of the European Food Safety Authority mean for the industry and for Krones Recycling.
The requirements for recycled plastics intended for food contact have increased significantly in recent years. With the amendment of EU Regulation 2022/1616, the regulatory framework has been tightened once again. This has a direct impact on recycling processes, technology providers and processors of food-grade recyclates. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) plays a central role in this context.
Scientific assessment rather than market authorisation
EFSA is the European Union’s scientific assessment body for matters relating to food safety. Its responsibilities include the evaluation of so-called Food Contact Materials (FCMs). These also include recycled plastics. In the recycling context, EFSA assesses those processes intended for use in food contact applications, particularly with regard to their decontamination performance against potentially harmful substances. It also evaluates new recycling technologies and innovative process concepts.
It is important to note that EFSA itself does not grant authorisations. Rather, its scientific opinions form the basis for decisions by the European Commission and the relevant national authorities. Recycling processes that receive a positive assessment are subsequently published in the EU register.
What does the update mean for our customers?
With the amendment to Regulation 2022/1616 at the end of 2025, the requirements for process monitoring, documentation and full traceability were expanded. As a result, only recyclates from recycling processes that reliably meet these criteria may continue to be used for food packaging applications.
Krones Recycling also operates in this demanding regulatory environment. The stricter EU requirements and the strengthened role of EFSA set high standards for technology, process management and quality assurance. Krones Recycling is technologically designed to reliably meet these more stringent requirements and has now been evaluated by EFSA for this purpose. The focus is on high-performance and stable decontamination processes, clearly defined and controlled process conditions, transparent monitoring, comprehensive documentation and consistently high quality in food-grade recyclates.
For customers, the certification means one thing above all: planning and investment security. Krones Recycling solutions comply with the stricter regulatory requirements for documentation and proof of process-specific decontamination efficiency and microbiological safety. This enables the safe use of recyclates in food-contact applications, both now and in the future.
With the Krones XtraPure decontamination module, customers can use recycled PET in food contact products at levels of up to 100 percent in compliance with the EFSA certification. “We look forward to continuing to support our customers with the most demanding projects and, together, making a sustainable contribution to the plastics circular economy,” says Dr Michael Gotsche, Managing Director, Krones Recycling.
