This manuscript provides an overview of the legislative requirements for the use of mechanical recycled plastics in articles placed on the EU market, as seen from the perspective of a plastics recycler. The first part reviews the main principles included in the overarching legislation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restrictions of Chemicals (REACH) and to what extent these are applicable for mechanical recyclers of plastics. The interactions between REACH and the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) is discussed, as well as the difficulties for recyclers to comply with certain REACH requirements. In a second part, the focus is moved to the use of recycled plastics as Food Contact Material (FCM). The scope of the different applicable EU FCM regulations is inventorised as well as the key legislative principles involved. A final section is dedicated to the discussion on the authorisation of recycling processes under the FCM regulation and the practical challenges involved for the effective introduction of FCMs containing recycled plastics. Altogether it could be concluded that the complexity of the different legal perspectives, a lack of communication and transparency within the plastic value chain together with technical challenges related to recycling processes have been hindering the effective uptake of recycled plastic FCM (with the exception for bottle PET). The development of targeted solutions across the entire value-chain, taking into account different perspectives in terms of legislation and health protection, economic growth and technical innovations, will be crucial in achieving a circular economy for plastics, including recycled plastics for FCM.

从塑料回收商的角度来看，该手稿概述了在欧盟市场投放的商品中使用机械回收塑料的法律要求。第一部分回顾了有关化学品注册，评估，授权和限制（REACH）的总体立法中包含的主要原则，以及这些原则在多大程度上适用于塑料机械回收商。讨论了REACH与废物框架指令（WFD）之间的相互作用，以及回收商难以满足某些REACH要求的问题。在第二部分中，重点转移到将再生塑料用作食品接触材料（FCM）。列出了不同的适用欧盟FCM法规的范围以及所涉及的主要立法原则。最后一部分专门讨论了根据FCM法规对回收过程的授权以及有效引入含有回收塑料的FCM所涉及的实际挑战。可以得出的结论是，不同法律观点的复杂性，塑料价值链内缺乏沟通和透明性以及与回收过程有关的技术挑战，一直在阻碍对回收塑料FCM的有效利用（PET瓶除外） ）。考虑到立法和卫生保护，经济增长和技术创新方面的不同观点，在整个价值链中开发有针对性的解决方案，对于实现塑料（包括用于FCM的再生塑料）的循环经济至关重要。