European Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/250 is a correcting regulation adopted by the European Commission on 2 February 2026 and published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 3 February 2026.

It primarily affects manufacturers, importers, and suppliers of food packaging, cans, coatings, varnishes, and related materials in the EU market, giving them clearer timelines to phase out BPA where restricted..

It amends and corrects specific provisions in the earlier Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which introduced stricter controls on bisphenol A (BPA) and certain other bisphenols and bisphenol derivatives in food contact materials and articles (FCS).

This regulation prohibits and restricts BPA use in many food contact applications due to health concerns. This correction addresses inconsistencies, clarifications, and transitional arrangements in the original 2024/3190 regulation.

Major corrections and changes.

A. Removal of inconsistent references like "BPA and its salts" for consistency with definitions.

B. Prohibition on BPA use , This clarifies the ban on using BPA in manufacturing certain food contact materials and articles and placing them on the market, with specific derogations.

C. Updates for the testing and verification methods and rules for analytical methods to detect BPA and related substances.

Prioritizing methods from the EU Reference Laboratory (EURL) for food contact materials, with a default detection limit of 1 μg/kg.

D. Timelines and deadlines for the usage of non compliant articles or materials.

  • General single use articles by 20-July 2026.

  • Specific single-use articles for preserving fruits/vegetables or fishery products, or with BPA Warnishes and coatings only on exterior metal surfaces.Extended derogations up to 20 Jab 2028.

  • Additional adjustments for repeat-use articles and certain packaging. (Timing for the adoption and to avoid the food waste).

E Other clarifications includes declaration of compliance (DOCs) for intermediate materials, confidentiality and related amendments to EU 10/2011 and repeals the older EU 2018/213.

This regulation entered into force by around late February 2026 and applies directly across all EU Member States.

The full official text is available on EUR-Lex: Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/250.

It eliminates ambiguities by removing inconsistent "salts" references, refining testing rules, and updating declarations of compliance, while confirming or slightly adjusting short-term transitional sell-through periods—allowing non-compliant single-use articles until mid-2026 or longer for specific cases until 2028—to prevent supply disruptions and give immediate practical breathing room for manufacturers and importers phasing out BPA.

Common BPA alternatives now widely adopted or compliant in the EU market include:

  • Polyester-based coatings/resins — Excellent chemical resistance, thermal stability, and suitability for food cans, closures, and metal packaging; low migration risk and often recyclable.

  • Acrylic-based coatings/resins — Provide flexibility, impact resistance, and good performance for beverage/food can interiors (e.g., spray coatings); emulsion-polymerized versions offer high film integrity for acidic foods.

  • Non-BPA epoxy technologies (BPA-NI or next-gen epoxies) — Use alternative crosslinkers/backbones without intentional BPA; examples include Sherwin-Williams valPure V70 series or similar acrylic/polyester-hybrid epoxies that mimic traditional epoxy performance.

  • Olefin polymers or other non-epoxy systems — Used in some can linings for broad food compatibility.

  • Avoid BPS (Bisphenol S) and BPF (Bisphenol F) as drop-in replacements — they show similar endocrine-disrupting concerns and face increasing scrutiny/restrictions under the regulation's hazardous bisphenol provisions.

Other sustainable options beyond coatings:

  • Glass packaging — Fully non-toxic, reusable, recyclable, and inherently BPA-free.

  • Certain rigid plastics like BPA-free copolyesters (e.g., Tritan-like materials) for reusable items.

For EU compliance (especially exports from India/Bengaluru), prioritize alternatives with proven low migration (less than 1 μg/kg detection limit where applicable), updated Declarations of Compliance (DoC), and testing per EURL methods. Major suppliers (e.g., PPG, Sherwin-Williams, Dow, AkzoNobel) offer these certified options for can linings and metal packaging.