Notification from South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announces revisions in standards including migration and testing requirements; allows chemically recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) resins to be used in non-food contact parts of food contact materials (FCM)
Behind the barrier: Complex reality of paper and board packaging functionalization
Dossier discusses potentially misleading «eco-friendly» claims on paper and board packaging, plastic coatings are often used for functionalization: e.g., durability, grease-, water-, and gas -resistance; some alternatives exist but are not yet widely adopted or approved for food contact; recommends prioritizing reusable packaging and enforcing policy changes to eliminate PFAS and misleading marketing claims
Salinity of fatty food could influence migration
JRC scientists investigate influence of salinity level of food simulants on migration; argue that not only fatty content but also salinity of food needs to be considered when choosing migration testing conditions for polar migrants
REACH should regulate hazardous chemicals in groups
Swedish Member of Parliament makes a motion calling for the grouping of chemicals with structural similarity
EC publishes BPA roadmap
DG SANTE releases roadmap on new measures on BPA in FCMs; different options from no policy change to EU-wide ban on BPA in FCMs discussed and assessed
Nanomaterials in waste streams
Non-profit organizations call for better control of manufactured nanomaterials in waste streams in declaration with over 80 signatories worldwide
Draft EU regulation streamlines certification of plastic FCM recycling processes
European Commission (EC) proposes regulation simplifying the process for the development, certification, and use of recycled plastic food contact materials (FCMs) in the EU; would replace earlier regulation (EC) No 282/2008; open for public comment until January 10, 2022
French retailers restrict mineral oils in food
Six French retailers set limit values for MOSH and MOAH in their own-brand food products
BfR statement on bamboo cups and tableware
German institute for risk assessment publishes position statement on melamine-formaldehyde resins, including tableware made with bamboo fibers; warns consumers against using such tableware with hot liquids; recommends lowering specific migration limit of formaldehyde in EU regulation from 15 to 6 mg/kg
Virginia bans polystyrene and single-use plastics
US state governor passes legislation banning polystyrene foam food packaging partially by 2023 and fully by 2025; sets penalty of $50 a day, civil organizations to be exempted; signed executive order regulating phase-out of non-reusable plastics from public institutions by July 21, 2021