Northern Ireland consults on consolidated food-contact enforcement rules

Northern Ireland's Food Standards Agency opened a consultation on 5 November 2026 on replacing its 2012 food-contact materials enforcement regulations with a single consolidated set of provisions. The framework would cover plastics, recycled plastics, bisphenol restrictions, and PFAS and heavy metals provisions for food-contact packaging, with responses due by 23:59 on 29 January 2027.

Why this mattersClearer enforcement powers, including wider use of Improvement Notices, make food-contact obligations for packaging sold in Northern Ireland easier to enforce, though the FSA expects limited costs.

• Northern Ireland's Food Standards Agency opened the consultation on 5 November 2026.
• The proposal would replace 2012 food-contact materials enforcement regulations with consolidated provisions.
• Scope includes plastics, recycled plastics, bisphenol restrictions, and PFAS and heavy metals provisions.
• Responses are due by 23:59 on 29 January 2027.
• The FSA's preferred option is consolidation into a single draft Statutory Rule, not yet finalised.
• The FSA's draft impact assessment anticipates limited familiarisation costs and no significant adverse impacts.

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