Date of issue: 20 August 2026
Date of effect: Immediate
Reference Number: MAA2026-07
Attention
- Industry bodies – Seafood Industry Australia, Seafood Trade Advisory Group, Seafood Export Consultative Committee
- Seafood Product Export Establishments
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry – Central and Regional offices
- Exporters, AEPI and NEXDOC users
Purpose
This Market Access Advice (MAA) informs stakeholders of new European Union (EU) rules on packaging and packaging waste. These new rules appear in the packaging and packaging waste Regulation 2025/40 known as the PPWR. The full document can be viewed here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202500040
Summary of key points
The new rules set stricter sustainability, labelling, and conformity requirements on all food packaging. It applies to empty and filled packaging and, imported packaged products. Some key requirements are:
- There will be new limits on concentrations of substances of concern in packaging, including per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS),
- Documentation demonstrating compliance with new requirements, and
- All packaging must be recyclable by 2030.
PFAS and food contact materials
From 12 August 2026, food contact packaging must not contain concentrations of PFAS higher than levels shown below:
| Type of packaging | PFAS limit (part per billion) |
|---|---|
| Any PFAS as measured with targeted PFAS analysis (polymeric PFAS excluded) | 25 ppb |
| Sum of PFAS measured as the sum of targeted PFAS analysis | 250 ppb |
| PFAS (including polymeric PFAS); if total fluorine exceeds 50 mg/kg the manufacturer, importer or downstream user of packaging must demonstrate proof that the fluorine is measured as content of wither PFAS or non-PFAS | 50 ppb |
Documentation
The PPWR requires packaging manufacturers to assess whether packaging complies before it is placed on the EU market. The conformity assessment procedure is internal production control, a self-assessment procedure. The assessment should be supported by technical documentation and an EU declaration of conformity. The EU declaration of conformity is the manufacturer’s written declaration that the packaging complies with the applicable PPWR requirements.
EU importers are responsible for checking that packaging placed on the EU market complies with the PPWR. They may need information from exporters and packaging suppliers to do this. Exporters should therefore be ready to provide information on packaging materials, if requested.
FAQs
The EU has published Frequently Asked Questions on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) here: FAQ on Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) - Environment Sections 19 and 20 contain important information on enforcement of the PFAS provisions.
Micor
The Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) will be updated to reflect this market access advice. The department encourages users of Micor to subscribe to the Micor update service for a commodity-specific email that lists changes that have been made the preceding week.
Further information
Contact exportstandards@aff.gov.au if you have any queries.
The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.