Germany - June 2026 Update to BfR Recommendation on FCM: New Category XXI/3 for Thermoplastic Elastomer Vulcanizates (TPV)

​In June 2026, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) updated its Recommendations on Food Contact Materials, primarily introducing the new subsection XXI/3 on thermoplastic elastomer vulcanizes (TPV).​

The two existing subsections were revised to remove TPV references and are now structured as follows:
XXI/1: Commodities based on natural and synthetic rubber in contact with food

XXI/2: Special consumer goods based on natural and synthetic rubber and on latices made of natural and synthetic rubber (formerly special category)

XXI/3: Consumer goods made of thermoplastic elastomer vulcanizes (TPV)

Section XXXV was amended to replace Part B with a reference to the new XXI/3. 

​XXI/3​ also clarifies that: 

- conventional articles based on natural/synthetic rubber remain under XXI/1 or XXI/2

- TPE without partial crosslinking/vulcanization are not covered by XXI/3

- TPV are specifically blends of a thermoplastic phase and a rubber phase, where the rubber is dynamically vulcanized during mixing​​.