In application of the French AGEC law (Anti-Waste and Circular Economy), the Order “specifying the substances contained in mineral oils whose use is prohibited on packaging and for printing intended for the public” was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on 3 May 2022. It specifies the type of substances that will be banned as of 1 January 2023.
This Order was issued in accordance with the provisions of Article 112 of the law n°2020-105 of 10 February 2020 on the fight against waste and the circular economy (known as the AGEC law).
The aim is to ban mineral oils containing substances that disrupt waste recycling and limit the use of recycled materials because of the risks they pose to human health.
Article 1 of the Order specifies that “mineral oils” means oils produced from feedstocks derived from petroleum hydrocarbons used for the manufacture of inks.
Article 2 indicates the types of substances covered by the ban:
1. Mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) with 1 to 7 aromatic rings
2. Mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) with 16 to 35 carbon atoms
The Order comes into force on 1 January 2023.
Until 31 December 2024, the ban on the use of mineral oils applies when the mass concentration of mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in the ink is greater than 1%.
From 1 January 2025, the ban on the use of mineral oils applies :
• For mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH), where the mass concentration in the ink of these substances is greater than 0.1% or the mass concentration …
