Understanding the EuPIA Charter for packaging inks

The European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA) Charter represents a major evolution in industry standards, replacing the long-standing Exclusion Policy with a more robust, tiered framework for chemical safety. This voluntary initiative ensures that the inks and coatings we use every day meet the highest standard for human health. In this post, we’ll explore how the Charter strengthens the supply chain and why it’s a critical step forward for transparency and safety in printing ink manufacturing.

What is the EuPIA Charter?

In March 2026, the European Printing Ink Association (EuPIA) launched its “Charter on raw material selection and exclusion for printing inks and related products.” This voluntary initiative, which replaces the previous exclusion policy and works alongside existing EU regulations, aims to strengthen chemical safety measures across Europe’s printing ink landscape.

The EuPIA Charter marks a step change in the industry’s commitment to safety and stewardship. By replacing the long-standing Exclusion Policy, this new framework moves beyond a hazard-based approach towards a more robust, risk-based approach that ensures the highest health and safety standards for both workers and consumers.

Why this matters now?

Since 2016, the Exclusion Policy has been revised eight times to keep pace with rapid changes in other legislation. However, its hazard-focused design ultimately hampered the use of certain legally approved raw materials with low-exposure estimations. This imbalance threatened to replace well-characterised substances with alternatives that had not been toxicologically evaluated, and also resulted in more time-consuming qualification processes.

The EuPIA Charter was introduced with a goal to improve product integrity and safety by moving from the existing hazard-based approach towards a more proactive, risk-based sustainability framework. This change enabled better alignment between the printing ink industry and evolving EU chemical regulations, while still ensuring full protection for workers and customers.

By becoming signatories, EuPIA members commit to excluding or substituting high-risk, hazardous raw materials from their printing inks and related products. The Charter applies to all types of printing inks and related products across Europe.

What does the Charter mean?

The 2026 Charter introduces two key paths for substances:

Group I (Non-threshold): These substances must be replaced within one year. After this deadline, EuPIA members may no longer use them.

Group II (Threshold): If replacing these substances is not feasible, continued use is permitted only if a risk assessment proves they are safe and the EuPIA Technical Committee approves. These cases are reviewed every two years.

The Charter is not retrospective, and previously excluded substances will not be re-evaluated.

What challenges does the Charter present?

The biggest challenge remains the availability and cost of alternatives. When a substance is reclassified, manufacturers must often withdraw high-performing formulations and undertake an extensive reformulation process, often taking 12-24 months to integrate with more expensive materials. This can lead to significant market disruption.

How is Flint Group Packaging Solutions responding?

Flint Group Packaging Solutions is fully aligned with the EuPIA Charter. We are committed to manufacturing safe and sustainable inks through our PRISM sustainability strategy, which focuses on three key pillars: Products, Planet, and People. 

As a global leader in the ink industry, we integrate circular economy principles and rigorous safety standards into our core manufacturing processes. Our products are designed with safety and sustainability in mind, proactively identifying and phasing out toxic substances.

In addition, to ensure compliance with the EuPIA Charter requirements, we are focusing on:

Safe by Design approach: Integrating chemical safety into the initial R&D phase to avoid costly late-stage reformulations.

Collaborative substitution: Working with raw material suppliers to fast-track safer alternatives, particularly for photoinitiators and pigments affected by global supply chain volatility.

Supply chain transparency: The use of Statements of Composition (SoC) has become the gold standard for sharing detailed information about potential migrants with converters and brand owners. These documents provide downstream converters and brand owners with the critical toxicological data and migration limits necessary to conduct accurate risk assessments, thereby ensuring that the final printed package is safe for consumer use and compliant with complex food contact material (FCM) legislations

How will the printing ink landscape adapt?

Looking toward 2027 and beyond, the focus in the printing ink industry will shift further towards circularity and recyclability. Every component of packaging, including the printing ink, will be stringently scrutinised for its safety profile.

We predict that the EuPIA Charter will become the de facto global blueprint for manufacturers while formulating safe and sustainable printing inks.

What are the best practices for the printing ink industry?

Don't wait for regulation: Adopting the Charter’s principles early provides a competitive edge and simplifies compliance with emerging EU laws.

Maintain biennial reviews: Compliance isn't a one-time event, and the Charter requires regular reassessment of approved safe-use cases.

Prioritise worker safety: Remember that the Charter primarily protects the people who handle these materials every day at your facilities and at your customers' facilities.

Do you have a specific question about food safety and printing inks regulations? Our specialists are ready to help you navigate your regulatory obligations and outline the way forward.