European Commission initiative to consider lowering migration limits for lead, cadmium, other heavy metals in ceramic, glass, and enamel food contact materials; feedback on roadmap open until June 26, 2019, full public consultation to follow
BPA use in metal packaging
Survey by Environmental Working Group shows results for US metal food packaging; 12% of brands use BPA-free coatings; lack of information criticized
Foodwatch: German draft mineral oil ordinance not protective enough
Foodwatch criticizes new draft of German mineral oil ordinance; requests lower SML for MOAH, mandatory functional barriers for all paper and board food packaging, strict limit levels for MOSH and MOAH in food
Australian draft action plan against marine plastic pollution
Australian Government publishes draft plan to reduce marine debris and target plastic pollution in particular; commits to prevention, removal, monitoring activities, raising public awareness
OECD framework for nanomaterials
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publishes three reports focused on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials, provides framework with guidance on test methods for physico-chemical properties
New study shows impact of oral dosing on free BPA levels
Sublingual absorption leads to free BPA in serum of test animals, delivers plausible explanation for previous human biomonitoring findings
FDA study finds PFAS in grocery store foods
Study presented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration finds high levels of PFAS in some grocery store products, focus placed on sampling dairy farm near Air Force base and produce sold near PFAS production plant
Environmental chemicals in fish
Studies find decreasing levels of toxics in fish globally and increasing occurrence of intersex fish in pristine environments
EDCs and manufacturing doubt
Prominent EDC researchers publish rebuttal to critique of WHO/UNEP State of the Science 2012 report, accuse industry-funded scientists to deliberately confuse non-experts to delay regulatory action
EU court ruling on SVHCs in articles
European Court of Justice ruling requires notification of every article incorporated in a complex product when containing SVHCs above 0.1%; ECHA updates guidance