On Tuesday, September 30, 2025, the AGMPM (Association of the Greek Manufacturers of Packaging & Materials) in collaboration with the General Directorate of the General Chemical State Laboratory (DG GCSL) of the Independent Public Revenue Authority (IAPR - AADE), organized a webinar on the presence of PFAS chemicals in materials and articles that come into contact with food.
More than 160 executives from the Greek packaging industry and the scientific community of AGMPM attended the 130-minute webinar. The event was welcomed by the Governor of the AADE, Mr. Giorgos Pitsilis, who underlined the need for timely adaptation of the industry to the new European regulatory framework for PFAS, highlighting the crucial role of the AADE in implementing the legislation, providing scientific guidance and informing both the business community and the citizens. Dr. Sofia Zisi, Head of the General Directorate of the General Chemical State Laboratory (DG GCSL), also delivered a welcome address, emphasizing the importance of close cooperation between the General Chemical State Laboratory, the scientific community and the industry for the timely adaptation to the evolving PFAS framework and for advancing the use of safe and sustainable practices.
In the first speech entitled ‘PFAS Forever Chemicals - Risks to Human Health and the Environment’, Dr. N. Spetseris (Head of Department C, Directorate for Energy, Industrial and Chemical Products, DG GCSL) set out the definitions, gave examples of PFAS chemicals, highlighted the uses and risks for the environment and public health, as well as the recent REACH Restriction Proposal for the manufacture, placing on the market and use of PFAS in accordance with the REACH regulation.
In her speech entitled 'Restrictions on PFAS substances according to the REACH and POPs regulations', Ms. E. Foufa (Industry and Consumer Support Office, Directorate for Energy, Industrial and Chemical Products, DG GCSL) presented the existing restrictions on PFAS according to the European POPs and REACH regulations.
Then Dr. Dionysia Stefanitsi, (Head of the Alcohol and Foodstuffs Directorate, DG GCSL) in her speech entitled ‘PFAS Restrictions in Food Contact Materials - Current Status and Challenges’ referred to the uses of PFAS in food contact materials and discussed the regulatory framework under Union and Member States national legislation as well as guidelines for food contact materials. In this session, migration studies for paper articles in contact with food and population dietary exposure assessments in the Scandinavian countries and Belgium were presented.
In the last speech of the event entitled 'Laboratory testing for the presence of PFAS in materials in contact with food', Dr. Stella Kontou (Head of Department B, 2nd Chemical Service of Athens, DG GCSL) presented the analytical testing techniques used at the Agency’s laboratories for the determination of PFAS and evaluated the results of the analyses on paper straws and paper packaging materials (paper bags and wrapping paper). It was emphasized that since 2021 data has been collected regarding the type and levels of PFAS in paper and cardboard materials circulating on the Greek market.
The event material (video and presentations) is available to AGMPM members through the association's secretariat at info@pac.gr.