Ghana urged to align packaging regulations with EU standards

GHANA – Dr Hanson Arthur, Senior Consultant at Farrelly Mitchell Business Consultants Limited, has called on Ghana to develop a comprehensive national roadmap to align its packaging regulations with emerging European Union (EU) standards, warning that failure to do so could jeopardize the country’s agri-food exports to Europe.

Speaking during a stakeholder validation workshop in Accra, Dr Arthur said the roadmap would provide a coordinated framework for regulators, exporters, and manufacturers to adapt to the EU’s upcoming Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and the revised Bisphenol A (BPA) restrictions set to take effect in July 2026.

According to a study by Farrelly Mitchell, commissioned by COLEAD (formerly COLEACP), awareness of the new EU packaging requirements remains low in Ghana, and the country currently lacks the laboratory capacity to test packaging materials for banned substances such as BPA, a chemical known to have endocrine-disrupting effects.

“Our findings show that awareness about these emerging regulations is still very low, and Ghana lacks the capacity to test for substances like BPA,” Dr Arthur stated.

“This underscores the urgent need for a national roadmap that unites policymakers, industry, and consumers in ensuring compliance and consumer safety.”

The EU’s new rules aim to enhance recyclability, reusability, and traceability of packaging materials while curbing hazardous chemicals.

Dr Arthur cautioned that non-compliance could threaten Ghana’s market access to the EU, one of its major export destinations for fresh produce and processed foods.

However, he emphasized that the EU’s goal is not to limit trade but to promote safer and more sustainable packaging.

“The EU works with third countries to enable, not to oppose, their businesses. Just as it supported Ghana when vegetable exports were banned in 2014, collaboration and preparedness will again be key to ensuring competitiveness,” he noted.

Dr Arthur urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Standards Authority, and the Environmental Protection Agency to collaborate with private sector players to raise awareness, strengthen testing capacity, and establish clear packaging guidelines.

He added that alignment with EU standards would not only protect exports but also improve local consumer safety.

Mr Stephen Awuah, Regional Director for West Africa at Farrelly Mitchell, reiterated that compliance would require cross-sector collaboration and innovation.

“The stakes are high, but so too is our capacity to adapt and lead,” he said.

Farrelly Mitchell, a Dublin-based agri-food consultancy, operates in the UK, North Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

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