LATI hosted the EuMBC SMEG Meeting in Vedano Olona and took part in the Autumn Conference 2026: two days of European dialogue on REACH, PFAS, PPWR, ecodesign and substance safety.
Two days of discussion on the new regulatory complexity
European regulation of plastic materials is evolving rapidly and now touches on an increasing number of aspects: from substance management to sustainability, from material design to the traceability of information along the supply chain.
In this scenario, dialogue between companies, industry associations, regulatory experts and institutions is becoming increasingly important for correctly interpreting these changes and assessing their technical and industrial consequences.
It was with this objective that LATI hosted the periodic meeting of EuMBC’s SMEG – Substance Monitoring Expert Group at its historic Vedano Olona plant, followed the next day by the EuMBC Autumn Conference 2026, held in Milan at Unionplast.
Two complementary days, united by a central theme: understanding how to address a regulatory complexity that now directly affects compound formulation, raw material selection, sustainability, substance safety and the competitiveness of the European plastics industry.
EuMBC and SMEG: monitoring substances to anticipate change
EuMBC – European Masterbatchers and Compounders is the specialized sector of EuPC that represents the positions of European masterbatch and compound producers and closely follows the main regulatory developments affecting the industry.
Within the association, the SMEG – Substance Monitoring Expert Group, in which Cristiano Citterio, LATI’s Product Regulatory Affairs Manager, serves as Chairman, plays a specific role in monitoring substances and analyzing regulatory developments and the most critical positions that may affect the availability of raw materials, formulations and end applications. A role that has been highly valued by members over the years.
During the meeting on October 28, experts from various European countries discussed some of the most relevant dossiers for the industry:
- restrictions on microplastics;
- pellet loss into the environment;
- materials in contact with food and drinking water transport;
- PFAS;
- flame retardants;
- substances of concern;
- new packaging regulatory framework;
- material sustainability.
Topics that may appear different at first glance, but are increasingly interconnected when viewed from a compounder’s perspective.
A change in the regulatory status of a substance, for example, may require finding an alternative, reformulating the compound, carrying out new characterization activities and subsequently validating the end application.
Material compliance: from regulation to compound design
One of LATI’s contributions to the EuMBC Autumn Conference 2026 was presented by Daniele Magni, who analyzed the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for thermoplastic materials.
The key point is that compliance can no longer be managed solely at the end of formulation development.
The availability of a substance, its possible regulatory trajectory, the information provided by suppliers and the requirements of the end application can all have an impact right from the earliest stages of material design.
For compounders, it is therefore becoming increasingly important to integrate:
- regulatory monitoring;
- raw material expertise;
- formulation development;
- technical characterization;
- document management;
- communication along the supply chain.
| “Today, regulatory compliance can no longer be considered a mere check carried out only downstream of development. Legislative changes can affect the availability of raw materials, formulations and qualification pathways. This is why it is increasingly important to integrate regulatory and technical expertise from the earliest stages of material development and to maintain ongoing dialogue throughout the entire supply chain, including with institutions.” Daniele Magni, Product Regulatory Technician at LATI |
This approach becomes particularly relevant when a regulatory change affects substances or additives used to provide specific functional properties.
Identifying a chemically available alternative does not necessarily mean having found a technically equivalent one.
Ecodesign and Safe and Sustainable by Design
LATI’s second contribution was presented by Davide Lotti, who explored the relationship between ecodesign and the Safe and Sustainable by Design – SSbD approach.
The topic highlights a significant shift in how material sustainability is approached.
It is no longer sufficient to evaluate a product only after its development. Safety, environmental impact, performance and regulatory requirements must increasingly be considered as integrated variables already during the design phase.
For a thermoplastic compound, this means simultaneously evaluating aspects such as:
- choice of polymer matrix;
- type of additives and reinforcements;
- origin of raw materials;
- performance required in the application;
- recyclability;
- carbon footprint;
- substance safety;
- evolution of the regulatory framework.
The goal is not simply to develop a material with a lower environmental impact, but to find a balance between performance, safety, sustainability and industrial feasibility.
PPWR, DWD, REACH and PFAS: different dossiers, the same supply chain
Both days made it particularly clear how closely interconnected topics such as PPWR, DWD, REACH, PFAS, sustainability and chemical safety have now become.
A single regulatory change can in fact propagate throughout the entire value chain.
The raw material producer must provide adequate information; the compounder must understand its impact on the formulation; the processor must ensure proper processability; the OEM must verify the compliance and performance of the component in its own application.
The quality and timeliness of information thus become an essential condition for making sound technical decisions.
This interdependence makes an approach in which each player in the supply chain tackles change individually increasingly ineffective.
The role of compounders and masterbatchers in managing compliance
At the close of the EuMBC Autumn Conference, Cristiano Citterio, LATI’s Product Regulatory Affairs Manager, took part in the panel dedicated to the role of masterbatchers and compounders in managing growing regulatory complexity.
The discussion with the audience confirmed how delicate a position the compounder occupies within the value chain.
On one hand, they must gather and interpret information from raw material suppliers; on the other, they must translate it into reliable guidance for processors, customers and end users.
| “The compounder sits at the center of an information flow connecting suppliers, processors and end users. Properly addressing regulatory complexity means not only monitoring legislative developments, but also building reliable data, sharing it along the supply chain, and working together so that decisions are based on technical evidence and on a regulatory framework correctly interpreted through ongoing, constructive dialogue with institutions.” Cristiano Citterio, Product Regulatory Affairs Manager at LATI |
This role becomes even more important during periods when the regulatory framework is evolving, requiring careful distinction between obligations already in force, proposals under discussion, and possible future developments.
The ability to correctly interpret these different levels makes it possible to plan development and qualification activities while avoiding both delays and premature decisions.
Industry associations and collaboration as tools for competitiveness
The presence of around forty professionals and experts, made possible in part by the collaboration with UnionPlast, which hosted the conference, together with the technical level of the discussions, confirmed the value of associative work in building a cross-industry network.
Organizations such as EuMBC and Unionplast enable companies to share experiences, gather evidence and build a shared understanding of the issues affecting the European compounding and masterbatch industry.
In a regulatory environment marked by growing complexity and rapid change, collaboration therefore also takes on competitive value.
Working together makes it possible to identify critical issues earlier, better understand the consequences of possible restrictions, and build technically sustainable paths for adapting materials and processes.
For LATI, hosting the SMEG Meeting and contributing to the EuMBC Autumn Conference represents a continuation of the work carried out daily on material compliance, sustainability and application development.
The message that emerged from the two days is clear: the future competitiveness of the European plastics industry will increasingly depend on the ability to connect regulation, material expertise, innovation and collaboration across the entire value chain.
FAQ
What is EuMBC?
EuMBC, European Masterbatchers and Compounders, represents European masterbatch and compound producers and follows the technical and regulatory developments affecting the plastics industry.
What is EuMBC’s SMEG?
SMEG, the Substance Monitoring Expert Group, is the group of experts dedicated to monitoring substances and regulatory developments with potential impact on masterbatch, compounds, raw materials and applications.
How does REACH affect thermoplastic compounds?
REACH, an EU regulation in force since 2006, and its progressive implementation can affect the use and future availability of substances present in formulations. Any restrictions may require reformulation, characterization and technical validation of alternatives, as well as the necessary communications along the supply chain.
Why are PFAS an important topic for compounders and masterbatchers?
Fluoropolymers, and PTFE in particular – a polymer widely used to provide specific performance properties in certain plastic materials – fall within the definition of PFAS subject to future regulation. These regulatory developments therefore require monitoring, evaluation of alternatives, verification of continued performance in applications, and dialogue with institutions.
What does Safe and Sustainable by Design mean?
Safe and Sustainable by Design, abbreviated as SSbD, is an approach that aims to integrate safety and sustainability from the earliest stages of designing substances and materials, considering performance, environmental impact and safety requirements together.
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