Notification to the World Trade Organization includes specific migration limits for chemicals by food contact material (FCM) type; plastics with lost traceability not to be used in food contact applications; draft standards open for comments until January 21, 2019
EU takes action against illegal bamboo tableware
21 European countries joined forces to identify illegal import, trade, and advertising of bamboo-containing plastics; 748 cases of plastic food contact materials identified on the EU market and at border controls
Scientific consensus on environmental neurotoxins
Project TENDR consensus statement calls for action against environmental chemicals affecting children’s brains and contributing to disorders such as autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities
Low plastic collection rates in U.S.
Plastic recyclers comment on the ongoing problem of low plastic collection rates in the U.S.; criticize soft drink companies for fighting introduction of bottle deposit tax, call for collection rate to rise from 30% to 70%
Report on difficult-to-recycle materials
ASTRX (Applying Systems Thinking to Recycling) project publishes report reviewing efficiency of packaging materials through recycling processes; highlights flexible films and shrink sleeves as problematic, calls for increased purchasing of recycled content to boost market demand
Meta-analysis of BPA’s link to diabetes
Meta-analysis of epidemiological studies finds positive association between BPA exposure and type 2 diabetes risk
EFSA conference 2018: Engaging society
Presentations at EFSA conference 2018 address current challenges in societal engagement, inequalities limiting participation of citizens and NGOs in science and regulation in the EU
Lower threshold for nanomaterial registration under REACH
The German Ministry of Occupational Safety and Health suggests lowering the REACH registration threshold for nanomaterials to 100kg/year
EFSA publishes hazard assessment protocol for reevaluation of FCM plasticizers
European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) protocol outlines strategy for collecting data and appraising evidence for hazard assessment of phthalates and other plasticizers in food contact materials (FCMs); latest step in agency’s reevaluation of risks to public health
ECHA: Microplastics likely end up in soil and freshwater
ECHA’s risk assessment finds intentionally added microplastics more likely to accumulate in terrestrial and freshwater environments than in oceans