MOSH and MOAH Regulation in France: Prohibition in Inks for Packaging and Public Printing
On May 3rd, the French government published the “Arrêté du 13 avril 2022”, a decree specifying the substances found in mineral oils whose use is prohibited in packaging and in printed materials intended for the public.
This MOSH and MOAH regulation in France supports existing legislation aiming to eliminate the use of mineral oil-based inks—particularly those containing hazardous substances—on packaging and printed media such as brochures, leaflets, and more (JORF, 03/05).
The ban is enacted under the French law No. 2020-105 (AGEC) of February 10, 2020, and decree No. 2020-1725 of December 29, 2020 (Articles D. 543-45-1 and D. 543-213 of the French Environmental Code). It targets mineral oils that hinder recycling processes or pose health risks.
Substances Banned Under the Regulation
Following the ANSES opinion of March 8, 2017, the ban applies to:
- Mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) with 1 to 7 aromatic rings
- Mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) with 16 to 35 carbon atoms
Phased Implementation of the Ban
- Until 31 December 2024:
The ban applies if the MOAH content in the ink exceeds 1% by mass. - From 1 January 2025:
The thresholds become more stringent:- MOAH: Prohibited if content exceeds 0.1% by mass, or if compounds with 3 to 7 aromatic rings exceed 1 ppm in the ink.
- MOSH: Prohibited if content exceeds 0.1% by mass.
