News Brief
On March 6, 2026, REACH24H successfully facilitated the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approval of Chiguard GA403 (GA403), a cutting-edge UV absorber developed for PET food packaging by Chitec Technology Co., Ltd., a leading specialty chemicals company. This marks the first food contact substance approved by EFSA in 2026, with the associated safety assessment published in the EFSA Journal.
The achievement highlights REACH24H’s expertise in navigating complex regulatory landscapes, providing end-to-end compliance support, and bridging cross-regional regulatory frameworks for high-performance chemical innovations.
EFSA Approval: A Milestone in Stringent Food Contact Compliance
The EU Regulation (EU) 10/2011 on food contact plastics is recognized worldwide as a benchmark for food safety. Its rigorous scientific review process and high technical standards set a global precedent.
Each year, only a handful of new substances successfully pass EFSA evaluation, reflecting the extreme technical and data challenges involved. For many companies, this approval remains a major barrier to entering the European market.
The number of newly approved food contact substances in recent years is shown below:
| Year | Number of Newly Approved Food Contact Substances |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 2 |
With GA403, the chemical innovator and REACH24H have successfully overcome this barrier, demonstrating exceptional technical and regulatory capabilities.
GA403: Advanced Protection for PET Food Packaging
Chiguard GA403 is designed to enhance PET packaging by mitigating UV-induced degradation. PET materials are vulnerable to UV light (320–400 nm), which can cause yellowing, brittleness, and seal failure—ultimately accelerating food spoilage.
GA403 provides dual protection:
Shields PET packaging from UV-induced polymer breakdown.
Blocks UV light from reaching the packaged food, preserving quality and extending shelf life.
This innovation is a critical advancement for both soft and rigid food packaging, addressing durability, stability, and food preservation at the material level.
REACH24H: Overcoming Technical Challenges with Expertise
The UV absorption and photodegradation mechanisms of GA403 are highly complex. Standard physicochemical data alone were insufficient to satisfy EFSA’s stringent evaluation requirements, making this the most significant technical hurdle during submission.
To tackle this challenge, REACH24H’s technical team leveraged years of regulatory experience to design multiple customized comparative experiments, successfully characterizing GA403’s photodegradation pathways and clearly demonstrating its UV absorption and photostabilization mechanisms.
At the same time, the team conducted a comprehensive review of global research literature to confirm the toxicological safety of GA403’s breakdown products. By compiling a complete, scientifically rigorous dossier, REACH24H ensured that GA403 successfully passed EFSA’s rigorous technical review and received official approval.
Looking Ahead: REACH24H as a Compliance Bridge
Building on this success, REACH24H continues to leverage deep regulatory expertise and technical innovation to provide one-stop compliance solutions. The company remains committed to helping clients navigate global regulations efficiently, supporting their expansion into international markets.
