U.S. National Toxicology Program publishes systematic review on exposure to PFOA and PFOS and immunotoxicity, concludes that both substances are presumed immune hazards to humans
EFSA final scientific opinion on PFAS in food
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes final version of its opinion on risk to human health from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food; sets group tolerable weekly intake limit of 4.4 ng/kg body weight for four most commonly measured PFAS in humans
US FDA adds nine substances to food contact inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds nine new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCN) since August 2021
Guide for circular design
Ellen MacArthur Foundation and IDEO release Circular Design Guide providing design methods in line with circular economy concepts
EFSA assesses new plasticizer for PVC
European Food Safety Authority’s CEP Panel finds trimellitic acid, tris(2-ehtylhexyl) ester safe for use as plasticizer in soft PVC for making single-use wrap films or repeated use tubing
Print-related food contaminants
Identity and set-off assessed for print-related contaminants by three different mass spectrometry methods; most compounds show evidence for set-off
BPA on the list of SVHCs as of 2017
ECHA Member State Committee unanimously agrees on identification of bisphenol A and three other substances as substances of very high concern (SVHCs); substances to be added to SVHC list in January 2017
New Zealand and two Australian states phase out single-use plastics
New Zealand Ministry for the Environment announces plan to ban many hard-to-recycle and single-use plastic items by mid-2025; includes food packaging made from polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and some degradable plastics, plus all drink stirrers, single-use tableware, and fruit labels; Western Australia moves Plan for Plastics ahead 4 years, banning most single-use plasticware by end of 2021; New South Wales to eliminate most single-use plasticware within a year
EFSA evaluates 2 new substances for use in FCMs
Adipic acid dihydrazide and 1,7-octadiene are not of a safety concern for consumers
FDA releases PFAS method, publishes final survey results
U.S. Food and Drug Administration releases validated analytical method to measure 16 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); announces final measurement results from foods sampled within Total Diet Study