Senior consultant at Farrelly Mitchell Business Consultants Limited, Dr Hanson Arthur, has called for the development of a national roadmap to align its packaging regulations with upcoming European Union (EU) standards in order to protect the country’s agri-food exports.
He explained that the roadmap will provide a coordinated framework to help manufacturers, exporters, and regulators adapt to the EU’s new packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR) and the revised bisphenol A (BPA) rules, both set to take effect in July 2026.
Speaking at a stakeholder validation workshop in Accra, Dr Arthur said a study by Farrelly Mitchell, commissioned by COLEAD (formerly COLEACP), found that awareness of the new EU regulations in Ghana remains low and the country currently lacks the capacity to test for substances like BPA in packaging materials.
“Our findings show that awareness about these emerging regulations is still very low, and Ghana lacks testing capacity for substances such as BPA. This highlights the urgent need for a national roadmap that brings together policymakers, industry players, and consumers to ensure both regulatory compliance and consumer safety,” he said.
The new EU regulations aim to improve the recyclability, reusability, compostability, and traceability of packaging materials while restricting hazardous substances such as BPA – a chemical known to disrupt hormonal balance.
Dr Arthur warned that non-compliance could jeopardise Ghana’s access to the EU market, one of the country’s most important destinations for agri-food exports like fruit and vegetables.
However, he emphasised that the EU’s goal is not to restrict trade but promote sustainable and safe packaging practices.
“The EU works with partner countries to support, not hinder, their businesses. Just as they helped Ghana when our vegetable exports faced bans in 2014, collaboration and preparedness will again be key to keeping our exporters competitive,” he noted.
Regional Director for West Africa at Farrelly Mitchell, Stephen Awuah, explained that the workshop aimed to validate the study’s findings, raise awareness among stakeholders, and collect feedback to be shared with EU authorities through COLEAD.
“Achieving compliance with the new EU packaging rules will require coordinated action from government, industry, and research institutions. The stakes are high, but so is our capacity to innovate, adapt, and lead,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ghana Standards Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, and private sector stakeholders to coordinate efforts at raising awareness, strengthening laboratory testing facilities, and establishing clear guidelines for packaging manufacturers.
Awuah added that aligning with EU standards is not only vital for exports but also for protecting local consumers.
“It’s not just about exporting to the EU. We must also ensure that packaging materials used in Ghana are safe and environmentally friendly,” he said.
