Canadian government adds 3 substances relevant for food contact materials to country’s list of toxic substances
BPA disrupts human egg maturation
New study investigates effect of BPA exposure on human egg development and infers link to infertility
Rigid polyolefin recycling capacity in Europe
Plastic Recyclers Europe reports 1.7 million tons of installed recycling capacity for the waste stream, packaging still the largest use
Bulk food in supermarkets: growth and challenges
Article by Civil Eats discusses the rise of bulk food dispensers in grocery stores to reduce food packaging and challenges they face; presents initiatives from larger chains including re-use of customers’ containers; addresses food safety concerns, need for educating consumers
Tox21 Update
Environmental Health Perspectives reports on Tox21 advances, issues from Phase I to be resolved in Phase II
NGOs highlight importance of REACH in circular economy
Position paper calls for clean circular economy in Europe, presence of hazardous chemicals in recycled materials poses threat to public and market confidence
BPA during pregnancy affects thyroid function in newborn boys
First study to link maternal BPA exposure to neonatal thyroid function in male newborns but mechanisms remain unclear
JRC: Avoid pre-heating for migration testing
EU Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials completes study on the impacts of pre-heating food contact materials before migration testing; advises reference laboratories to avoid pre-heating
First annual EU forum on endocrine disruptors
Event brings together EU government agencies, research institutions, stakeholders to discuss endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); Joint Research Centre (JRC) announces upcoming launch of stakeholder survey to inform ongoing fitness check of EU legislation
Amendment to EU plastic FCM regulation
European Commission publishes 6th amendment to plastic FCM regulation; changes for 6 substances and inclusion of 10 new substances in Union List; new specific migration limits for aluminum and zinc; food simulants and compliance testing specified