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Foodservice Packaging Compliance Checker: Bans, Taxes & Certifications by Country
Pick your market and product to see what applies to single-use foodservice packaging: plastic bans, packaging taxes, and the compostable certification buyers ask for. Every answer is cited to a government source, so you can verify before you file.
This checker is general guidance, not legal advice. Confirm every rule against the linked official government source before you file or ship.
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Every market at a glance
Single-use foodservice packaging rules by market, with the government source for each.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
BannedSingle-use plastic foodservice items are banned in England, and plastic packaging is taxed nationwide.
£228.82 per tonne on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content, from 1 April 2026.
Single-use plastic ban (England) · 1 October 2023
Supplying single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays, cutlery and expanded polystyrene food containers and cups is banned.
Source: GOV.UK, single-use plastics banPlastic Packaging Tax (PPT) · Current rate from 1 April 2026
Plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content is taxed by weight. Compostable and biodegradable plastics still count as plastic and remain taxable. Bagasse and other natural moulded fibre are not plastic and are outside the tax.
Source: GOV.UK, Plastic Packaging TaxWhat you need & how Ecofy fits
Accepted standard: EN 13432, BS EN 13432. Label: Seedling / industrially compostable mark. Ecofy bagasse tableware is unlined moulded fibre, so it is outside the plastic ban and the Plastic Packaging Tax, and carries compostability testing on request.
Last verified 2026-07-10. Confirm against the linked government source before filing.
🇪🇺 European Union
BannedSingle-use plastic foodservice items are banned EU-wide, and new packaging rules apply from August 2026.
Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) · 3 July 2021
Single-use plastic plates, cutlery, straws and expanded polystyrene food containers and cups cannot be placed on the EU market.
Source: European Commission, single-use plasticsPackaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) · Applies 12 August 2026
Regulation 2025/40 introduces recyclability, recycled-content and reduction rules, plus extended producer responsibility fees. It applies from 12 August 2026.
Source: European Commission, packaging wasteWhat you need & how Ecofy fits
Accepted standard: EN 13432. Label: Seedling logo (industrially compostable). Ecofy moulded-fibre tableware is a non-plastic single-use alternative, compliant with the SUPD, with EN 13432 test data available on request.
Last verified 2026-07-10. Confirm against the linked government source before filing.
🇺🇸 United States
RestrictedThere is no federal ban, but many states restrict polystyrene and single-use plastic foodware, and food-contact items must meet FDA rules.
State-level foodware bans and EPR · Varies by state
States including California, New York, Washington, Colorado, New Jersey, Maine and Oregon ban expanded polystyrene foodware and/or impose extended producer responsibility on packaging. Rules vary by state.
Source: CalRecycle, packaging (SB 54)FDA food-contact compliance · Ongoing
Food-contact packaging sold in the US must meet US Food and Drug Administration food-contact substance requirements.
Source: US FDA, food ingredients and packagingWhat you need & how Ecofy fits
Accepted standard: ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868, BPI certified. Label: BPI compostable mark. Ecofy bagasse tableware replaces banned polystyrene foodware, is FDA food-contact compliant, and offers BPI / ASTM D6868 aligned documentation.
Last verified 2026-07-10. Confirm against the linked government source before filing.
🇮🇳 India
BannedIdentified single-use plastic items are banned nationwide, and food-contact materials must meet FSSAI rules.
Single-use plastic ban · 1 July 2022
Manufacture, sale and use of identified single-use plastic items, including plastic plates, cups, cutlery, trays and polystyrene, is banned.
Source: CPCB, plastic wasteFSSAI food-contact rules · Ongoing (2024 updates)
Packaging in contact with food must comply with the FSSAI packaging regulations.
Source: FSSAIWhat you need & how Ecofy fits
Accepted standard: IS 17088, Compostable (CPCB certified). Label: Compostable mark (CPCB). Ecofy bagasse tableware is natural moulded fibre, not a banned plastic item, and is manufactured for FSSAI food-contact use.
Last verified 2026-07-10. Confirm against the linked government source before filing.
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
BannedSingle-use plastic bags are banned, and single-use plastic foodservice products are being phased out.
Single-use plastic bag ban · 1 January 2024
A federal ban on single-use plastic carrier bags applies across the UAE.
Source: MOCCAE, UAESingle-use plastic product phase-out · From 1 January 2026
Under Ministerial Decision No. 380 of 2022, single-use plastic products including styrofoam cups, plates and food containers, plastic cutlery, stirrers and straws are prohibited from import, manufacture and trade. Emirate-level timelines (Abu Dhabi, Dubai) may differ.
Source: MOCCAE, UAEWhat you need & how Ecofy fits
Accepted standard: EN 13432, ASTM D6400. Label: Industrially compostable mark. Ecofy bagasse tableware is a non-plastic alternative to the styrofoam and plastic foodware being phased out, with international compostability documentation on request.
Last verified 2026-07-10. Confirm against the linked government source before filing.
Frequently Asked
Packaging compliance, answered
The questions procurement teams ask before switching supplier.
Is single-use plastic banned in the UK?
Yes. Since 1 October 2023 England bans supplying single-use plastic plates, bowls, trays, cutlery and expanded polystyrene food containers and cups. Separately, plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content is taxed. Bagasse moulded fibre is not plastic, so it is outside both. See the UK guide.
What certification is required for compostable foodservice packaging in the EU?
The EU recognises EN 13432 for industrial compostability, shown with the seedling logo. Single-use plastic plates, cutlery and polystyrene foodware are banned under the Single-Use Plastics Directive, and the PPWR applies from 12 August 2026. See EN 13432.
Is bagasse tableware compliant in India?
Yes. India's single-use plastic ban (from 1 July 2022) targets identified plastic items, not natural moulded fibre. Bagasse tableware is manufactured for FSSAI food-contact use. See the FSSAI guide.
What standard does the US require for compostable foodware?
There is no federal ban, but many states restrict polystyrene foodware and impose EPR. Compostable claims are typically backed by ASTM D6400 or D6868 and BPI certification, and food-contact items must meet FDA rules. See the FDA guide.
How current is this data?
Every market entry shows a 'last verified' date and links to the primary government source so you can confirm it yourself. Rates are reviewed on their official update cadence (the UK Plastic Packaging Tax is reviewed each April). Always confirm against the linked source before filing.
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