How to get EU PPWR Packaging Testing?

On August 12, 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR, Regulation (EU) 2025/40) will become fully mandatory. This means that all packaging placed on the EU market—whether shipping cartons, plastic mailing bags, product color boxes, cushioning materials, or tape labels—must meet the new compliance requirements. Merchants selling physical goods to the EU must not only fulfill EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) registration obligations under the packaging laws of various countries but also ensure that the concentration of heavy metals and specific restricted substances in their packaging complies with the limits set out in the PPWR.

Restricted Substances Under the PPWR

Heavy Metals (Four Items)

The total content of the four heavy metals—Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), and Hexavalent Chromium (Cr⁶⁺)—must be ≤ 100 mg/kg.

Note: This testing item applies to all packaging and packaging components.

PFAS Substances

1. Any PFAS (excluding polymeric PFASs) < 0.025 mg/kg (25 ppb).

2. Sum of PFASs (excluding polymeric PFASs) < 0.25 mg/kg (250 ppb).

3. Sum of PFASs (including polymeric PFASs) < 50 mg/kg (50 ppm).

4. Total Fluorine (total F): 50 mg/kg (50 ppm).

Note: This testing item applies to food contact packaging.

How to Save Money on PPWR Packaging Testing?

For Non-Food Contact Packaging:

If the packaging materials and colors are identical, you can choose to test a representative sample and have it reflected in a single report.

*If the report needs to be uploaded to a cross-border e-commerce platform, the testing must be conducted according to the platform's specific requirements.

For Food Contact Packaging (Two Options):

• Option 1 (More Economical):
  First, test the total fluorine content. If the measured total fluorine in the packaging is ≤ 50 ppm, it can be judged as compliant. If the total fluorine exceeds 50 ppm, further testing is conducted to identify the source of the PFAS.

• Option 2 (Higher Compliance Cost):
  Directly test for PFAS to explicitly determine whether the product complies with the 25 ppb and 250 ppb concentration limits.

PPWR Packaging Testing Process

1. Confirm whether the packaging is for food contact.

2. Contact a testing agency and coordinate packaging information.

3. Confirm the fees and provide a complete packaging sample (mandatory).

4. Laboratory Testing (typically takes 5-7 working days).

5. Issuance of the PPWR packaging test report.

If I have a REACH report, do I still need PPWR packaging chemical testing?

Yes. Although both regulate chemicals, PPWR and REACH are two independent and parallel regulatory frameworks. The restricted substance requirements in the PPWR are more stringent and specifically target the packaging itself. Therefore, a REACH report cannot serve as a direct substitute.

JJR LAB, as an internationally recognized independent third-party impartial testing agency, holds CNAS & CMA accreditation, CPSC authorization, and professional chemical testing capabilities. We provide comprehensive restricted substance testing for the EU PPWR.