Following recent discussions around regulatory evolution in label printing and the latest Live Webinar shared by BOBST, the clear message is that compliance is no longer simply a box to tick, but a prerequisite to access and compete in the market.
Across Europe, upcoming frameworks such as the Swiss Ordinance 2026 and the German Ink Ordinance 2027 are raising the bar on formulation, migration control, and proof of compliance. At the same time, brand owners accelerate this shift, requiring converters not only to comply, but to demonstrate compliance with traceable data.
“For converters, this translates into a fundamental operational change,” said Patrick Graber, Marketing Director PL Label at BOBST. “Compliance must be embedded daily into production, technology choices, and customer interactions.” The ability to provide transparency and consistency across applications is quickly becoming a key differentiator in supplier selection.
Why BOBST Thalia UV Digital Inks are ideal for changing label production demands
Thalia UV Digital Inks have been developed in direct response to this changing market. Evolution lies in performance and formulation. Thalia UV Digital Inks have been formulated using the authorized substances list of the Swiss Ordinance, supporting compliance from the ground up.
Rather than reacting to regulations, the ink set is designed to anticipate them, reducing the need for reformulation, requalification, and future process adjustments. They exclude more than 20 groups of substances of concern, including PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols and primary aromatic amines. The inks also align with major regulatory frameworks, such as EU 1935/2004, REACH, and EuPIA GMP, while anticipating upcoming requirements.
Supporting compliance does not mean adding complexity to the production floor: the inks run on existing BOBST digital platforms for label production with no hardware modifications, inert gas, or extensive process adjustmentsrequired.
BOBST also supports converters beyond ink formulation, providing structured documentation (DoC/SoC) and access to migration modeling. This helps assess and predict migration behavior, ensuring compliance is achieved and proven especially for audits and brand owner scrutiny.
From an operational perspective, this is critical. Converters can meet compliance requirements while maintaining productivity, color consistency, and application flexibility across demanding segments such as food, cosmetics, and toys. Compliance can be managed without compromising output and can unlock access to new market opportunities altogether.
What matters next for converters
Looking ahead, the challenge is not only meeting regulatory thresholds, but integrating compliance into a scalable production model.
Converters need a clear methodology to manage compliance. This means defined operating windows, validated migration data, and documented processes that can withstand audits. A fragmented approach increases risk, while a structured framework reduces it.
Equally important is the ability to align compliance with broader production strategy. Compliance must work seamlessly with printing technology and workflows, especially as application requirements diversify.
Regulatory pressure will continue to increase, and converters that embed compliance into technology and operations will be best positioned to turn this constraint into a long-term competitive advantage.
Converters that have yet to assess their readiness for upcoming regulatory changes, are encouraged to exploreBOBST Thalia UV Digital inks and download the selfassessment audit guide.
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