Italy expands list of stainless steels authorized for food contact, updates list of unintentionally added elements permitted in stainless steels
France: Second national strategy on EDCs
France publishes second national strategy on endocrine disrupting chemicals; plans creation of EDC list in 2020, followed by education campaigns; calls for tighter and more harmonized EDC regulations EU-wide; allocates funds to support EDC research
France bans plastics in school canteens
French National Assembly adopts law banning plastic food containers in child care, school, university catering services by 2025
Report to accelerate ‘safe-by-design’ concept
Group of experts submit report to European Commission, aim to advance integration of ‘safe-by-design’ chemical and material innovation in upcoming Horizon Europe research program
FCM analysis at BioDetectors conference 2018
11th BioDetectors conference addresses use of cell-based bioassays in food contact material safety analysis
Safety of DEHCH
EFSA assesses safety of bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate (DEHCH) for use as plasticizer in PVC; concluded to present no safety concerns; uncertainty remains about bioaccumulation potential in humans
EEB challenges ECHA to 10 REACH improvements
European Environmental Bureau recommends tasks for ECHA to increase transparency, enable precautionary principle, allocate burden of proof onto industry, promote substitution; plans to evaluate and communicate on progress made in one year
Survey: packaging importance grows for brands
L.E.K Consulting conducts survey among 250 brand owners of packaged consumer goods; 75% expect to increase spending on packaging this year, expand focus on biodegradable, recycled, or compostable materials
Ingestion of phthalates may also be linked to asthma
Irrespective of the route of exposure, a high body burden of phthalates was found to be associated with asthma in Norwegian children
France updates action plan on EDCs
National draft action plan on EDCs open for consultation; Health and Environmental Alliance submits comments, welcomes initiative