Accra: Ghana must develop a national roadmap to align its packaging regulations with emerging European Union (EU) standards to safeguard the country's agri-food exports, according to Dr Hanson Arthur, Senior Consultant at Farrelly Mitchell Business Consultants Limited. The proposed roadmap aims to guide manufacturers, exporters, and regulators in adapting to the EU's new Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and updated Bisphenol A (BPA) rules, set to take effect from July 2026.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Arthur highlighted the findings of a study conducted by Farrelly Mitchell, commissioned by COLEAD (formerly COLEACP), during a stakeholder validation workshop in Accra. The study revealed low awareness and limited testing capacity in Ghana regarding the new EU requirements. Dr Arthur emphasized the necessity of a national roadmap involving policymakers, industry players, and consumers to ensure regulatory compliance and consumer safety.
The EU's new regulations aim to enhance the recyclability, composability, reusability, and traceability of packaging materials while restricting hazardous chemicals such as BPA, known for its endocrine-disrupting properties. Dr Arthur warned that non-compliance could jeopardize Ghana's access to the EU market, a critical export destination for agri-food products, including fruits and vegetables. However, he noted the EU's intent to promote sustainable and safe packaging practices rather than restrict trade.
Dr Arthur called on the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ghana Standards Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency, and private sector stakeholders to coordinate efforts in raising awareness, strengthening laboratory testing capabilities, and establishing guidelines for packaging manufacturers. Aligning with EU standards is also crucial for local consumer safety, ensuring that packaging materials used in Ghana are safe and environmentally friendly.
Mr Stephen Awuah, Regional Director for West Africa at Farrelly Mitchell, stated that the workshop aimed to validate the impact study's findings, raise stakeholder awareness, and gather inputs to be shared with EU authorities through COLEAD. He stressed that achieving compliance with the new EU packaging rules would require coordinated action across government, industry, and research institutions, emphasizing Ghana's capacity to innovate, adapt, and lead in this area.
Farrelly Mitchell, a Dublin-based agri-food business consulting firm, operates in the UK, North Africa, Kenya, Ghana, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
