New EU Packaging and BPA regulations pose compliance challenges for Ghana’s agri-food exporters – Study  

A study by Farrelly Mitchell Business Consultants Limited has revealed that Ghana’s agri-food exporters face urgent compliance challenges as the European Union (EU) prepares to enforce its new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR).  

The study attributed the challenge to the stringent requirements of the PPWR and the EU’s updated rules on Bisphenol A (BPA), both set to take effect from July 20, 2026, warning that exporters risked losing access to the European market if they failed to meet the new standards.  

In a release issued to the Ghana News Agency, on Thursday, in Accra, it said the regulations, developed in response to environmental concerns and scientific evidence about BPA-related health risks, would impose stricter requirements on all agri-food exports to the EU.  

These include higher standards for the chemical safety of food-contact packaging materials and greater emphasis on recyclability, reusability, traceability, and composability.  

To assess the implications of these new requirements for developing countries, COLEAD (formerly COLEACP) commissioned Farrelly Mitchell Business Consultants Limited to conduct a study using Ghana as a case study.  

The assessment examined Ghana’s packaging industry, relevant regulatory frameworks, and the preparedness of public and private sector actors.  

The study found low awareness and limited preparedness across key Ghanaian stakeholders, including regulators, packaging manufacturers, and exporters.  

“While the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has some familiarity with aspects of the PPWR, it is yet to establish the regulatory framework or laboratory capacity required for BPA testing and compliance.”  

Similarly, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry (MoTAI) and industry actors were yet to adapt to the new EU requirements.  

It said although some local companies were already using recyclable materials or conducting limited BPA testing, often outside the country, these efforts were fragmented and fell short of EU standards.  

“Systems for recyclability testing, traceability documentation, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) remain weak. Ghana’s EPR policy, while drafted, has not yet been finalized or fully implemented.  

Despite the challenges, the report highlighted a strong desire among local firms to innovate and comply, provided they received adequate technical and financial support.  

“Major barriers include high compliance costs, misalignment between local and EU regulations, and limited access to EU-compliant packaging materials.”  

According to the study, Ghana could meet the EU’s new requirements by raising awareness and preparedness among stakeholders, improving recyclability, reusability, and composability of packaging.  

Ghana could also strengthen traceability, labelling, and documentation systems, enhance chemical testing capacity and laboratory infrastructure, finalize and enforce the national EPR framework.  

To avoid trade disruptions and ensure Ghana’s continued access to the EU market, the study recommended development of a national roadmap to align local packaging standards with EU regulations, scaling up recyclability assessment and testing capabilities, accelerating EPR implementation, and mobilizing technical and financial support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).  

It also urged Ghana to build robust traceability systems, drawing lessons from the cocoa sector, and encourage investment in packaging innovation aligned with global best practices.  

“Without swift and coordinated action, Ghana’s agri-food exporters risk losing competitiveness in the EU market when the new regulations come into force.”  

Source: GNA  

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