South Korea Amends FCM Standards: Stricter PVC Rules and Expansion of Recycled Polypropylene

Editor's Note: This article was originally published in January 2026 to analyze the draft partial amendment to South Korea's FCM standards, and was updated on 30 March 2026 to introduce the finalized version.

On March 27, 2026, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of South Korea announced the adoption of the partial amendment to the Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging. This amendment expands the scope of mechanically recycled resins for food-contact use from only polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to include polypropylene (PP). It also clarifies the prohibition on DEHP in the manufacture of utensils, containers, and packaging, the prohibition on DEHA in the manufacture of plastic wrap, and their migration requirements when contained in PVC materials. The prohibitions on DEHP and DEHA do not apply if it is ensured that they won't migrate into food. 

Official documents:

• MFDS Announcement No. 2026-24

• MFDS News

Previous article issued on January 15, 2026:

On January 8, 2026, South Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) issued MFDS Notice No. 2026-009, opening a public consultation on the draft partial amendment of the Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers and Packaging. The proposed amendment focuses on tightening safety standards for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) regarding phthalate migration and establishing new criteria to allow the use of mechanically recycled Polypropylene (PP) in food contact materials. The consultation will be closed on March 9, 2026.

Stricter Standards for PVC Materials

• Prohibition on DEHP and DEHA: The use of Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is prohibited in the manufacture of utensils, containers, and packaging. The use of Di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) is prohibited in the manufacture of plastic wrap. However, the prohibition won't apply if it is ensured that the substance does not migrate into food.

• Specific Migration Limit (SML): The proposal significantly tightens the migration limits for DEHP and DEHA in PVC materials.

Substance	Current SML	Proposed SML
DEHP (Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate)	1.5 mg/L	Shall not be detected
DEHA (Di-(2-ethylhexyl)adipate)	18 mg/L	18 mg/L (General) Shall not be detected (For plastic wrap)

Expansion of Mechanically Recycled Resin

Prior to this draft amendment, South Korea allowed the use of mechanically recycled resin in food contact materials exclusively for Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a policy established in 2022. However, Polypropylene (PP) is widely used in the domestic market, particularly for single-material reusable containers. The MFDS has moved to recognize mechanically recycled PP to promote a circular economy and plastic reduction. This draft amendment establishes criteria for the recognition of mechanically recycled PP as a raw material for food utensils, containers, and packaging. To ensure safety, specific requirements for input materials and the recycling process have been defined.

• Input Material Requirements: To be eligible for mechanical recycling, the input PP must:

• Be derived exclusively from PP food utensils, containers, or packaging.

• Be collected and sorted through a closed and controlled system (use, collection, sorting) to prevent exposure to non-food contaminants.

• Not contain adhesives or direct printing on the body (unless non-adhesive, alkali-soluble ink is used).

• Be cleaned using detergents compliant with the Hygiene Products Control Act to ensure no residual impurities remain.

• Process Requirements: Manufacturers must validate the decontamination efficiency of their recycling process:

• Manufacturing lines must be segregated from processes producing non-food recycled materials.

• Operators must maintain appropriate process parameters (temperature, pressure, time) to ensure decontamination.

• Validation of the recycling process is required to prove the removal of contaminants.

Once adopted, the partial amendment is scheduled to take effect immediately. A 12-month grace period from the effective date will apply specifically to the tightened migration limits of DEHP and DEHA in PVC materials. Industry stakeholders, particularly those manufacturing PVC films or utilizing recycled plastics, are advised to review their supply chains and compliance data to ensure alignment with the tightened limits and the new protocols for recycled PP.