European Chemicals Agency hosts webinar on November 12, 2019, to explain definition of nanoform, approaches to building sets of similar nanoforms, new REACH data requirements
France vs. EU: Ban on BPA in FCMs
Internal briefing document reveals EU Commission’s past intention for legal action against France’s ban of bisphenol A in food contact materials; Commission-internal disagreements put case on hold
Switzerland: 25% of PVC lid gaskets exceed plasticizer migration limits
Swiss national campaign analyses 109 oily food samples packaged in glass jars on the compliance of migration of plasticizers from their lid gaskets; comparison with European campaigns conducted a decade ago shows similar proportion of non-compliant samples with non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-gasket; urges food businesses to pay more attention to the suitability of their products lids
FPF comment: Canadian pollution prevention notice for plastic food packaging
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comment to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) on the development of a pollution prevention planning notice for food plastic packaging; FPF highlights aspects of chemical safety and circularity for ECCC to consider; primarily (i) chemical migration, (ii) supporting safe reuse, and (iii) standards for compostable materials
New safety assessment procedure for unknown NIAS
New safety assessment of unknown non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) in food contact materials (FCM) presented
Studies investigate extractable and leachable FCCs, present collision cross section database
Scientists develop collisions cross section (CCS) database for leachable and extractable food contact chemicals (FCCs) to help in chemical identification during targeted and untargeted analysis; database covers 1038 CCS values; study tentatively identifies >100 migrants from 24 plastic food packaging articles including 11 that are of potential concern or are priority hazardous substances
EU’s non-toxic strategy reports
EU Commission publishes comprehensive study and 7 sub-studies on its non-toxic environment strategy
REACH investigation flags non-compliant companies
German NGO BUND uses freedom of information request to identify substances and companies implicated in incomplete REACH dossiers, calls on ECHA to increase transparency of substance registrations
Chinese authorities approve new additives, resins for FCMs
Seven new additives and ten new resins approved for use in food contact materials (FCMs), others received expanded scope of use
US FDA adds 18 substances to food contact inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 18 new entries to Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications since January 2020