Regulatory update at European Tape Week: What adhesive tape companies need to act on now

Afera Regulatory Affairs Manager Pablo Englebienne briefed delegates on the regulations affecting the adhesive tape industry at Afera European Tape Week 2026, held 21–25 September 2026 in Porto, Portugal. He presented at both the 12th Afera Tape College and the 69th Afera Annual Conference, covering current requirements and those companies should prepare for. Afera Members can now read the full details in a new Member Brief.

Packaging: The PPWR now applies

The Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) has generally applied since 12 August 2026. Packaging manufacturers must assess conformity with applicable requirements, including heavy-metal limits and, for food-contact packaging, PFAS limits. Tape and film manufacturers supplying packaging components must provide substantiated compliance information to customers. Mr. Englebienne also covered how Afera’s decision trees help distinguish packaging from industrial process films, its continuing work on release liners and the draft Design for Recycling criteria for tapes on paper and cardboard packaging. The principal recyclability obligations are scheduled to phase in from 2030, subject to the relevant delegated legislation.

Deforestation: Supply-chain roles under the EUDR

The E.U. Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is particularly relevant to specified paper products and natural rubber used in tapes, depending on their customs classification. It applies from 30 December 2026 to medium and large operators and certain smaller operators already covered by the E.U. Timber Regulation; other micro and small operators have until 30 June 2027. Tape companies that import in-scope natural rubber directly may have primary-operator due diligence obligations, while other businesses face requirements according to their position and size.

Chemicals: REACH and CLP

Mr. Englebienne covered n-hexane’s inclusion on the REACH Candidate List, pending harmonised classifications for selected resin and rosin acids, synthetic polymer microparticle reporting, the broad proposed PFAS restriction and ECHA’s work on flame retardants. Since Porto, ECHA has recorded adopted committee opinions on the rosin classifications, which are not yet final legal classifications, while two brominated flame retardants, DBDPE and TBPH, have advanced to further assessment under the Stockholm Convention.

Operations: Plastic pellet losses

The Regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses generally applies from 17 December 2027 to installations handling at least 5 tonnes a year. It requires preventive and risk-management measures, with independent certification for facilities handling at least 1,500 tonnes according to company size and staggered deadlines.

What is next

Looking ahead, Mr. Englebienne highlighted the End-of-Life Vehicles Regulation, generally applying from September 2028, and its implications for automotive tapes, the forthcoming Circular Economy Act and the E.U.’s renewed industrial competitiveness agenda. In October, Afera also co-signed a cross-industry position calling for harmonised, more transparent E.U. extended producer responsibility rules under the planned Circular Economy Act.

Afera’s Regulatory Affairs Working Group (RAWG), led by Mr. Englebienne, engages with European institutions and other industry organisations to assess regulatory developments and represent the adhesive tape value chain. The full Member Brief sets out the detailed responsibilities, deadlines and Afera’s related advocacy work, including updates verified to 21 October 2026.

Read the full Member Brief

Afera Members can read the updated Member Brief, “Regulatory updates from European Tape Week 2026”, including timelines, compliance tables and source links, in the Members-only section of afera.com. Other companies can learn more about joining Afera and its regulatory work on the Regulatory Affairs page or by contacting regulatoryaffairs@afera.com.