Abstract: Recycling of plastic food packaging is a development trend in the future. There are currently no clear legal provisions on this issue in China. The legal regulation of recycling of food contact plastic packaging materials in China should focus on food safety while taking into account environmental protection, recycling economy and green consumption, which will not just promote the food packaging recycling industry’s development, but also will promote waste plastic management and environmental protection, thereby realizing the resource recycling and consumption upgrading under the premise of food safety. Based on the general situation of legal regulation in China, this article discusses the necessity and feasibility of legal regulation. Meanwhile, drawing on foreign experience, it proposes that the legal status of plastic food packaging recycling be defined, national food safety standards for recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials be formulated, market access for recycled food contact packaging materials be improved, and a social co-governance pattern for food packaging recycling be constructed.

Key words: food contact materials, food plastic packaging, recycling, recycled plastics, legal regulation