Industry associations and non-profit organizations welcome the European Parliament’s call for improved and harmonized regulation for all types of food contact materials
EFSA’s styrene assessment requests systematic review
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel publishes assessment of styrene in plastic food contact materials, follows 2018 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conclusion labelling it as ‘probably carcinogenic’; calls for systematic review of genotoxicity, toxicokinetics, species differences to determine safety
Restaurant review site now includes packaging as search filter
The restaurant review and search site Yelp now includes search filters for packaging; when searching for a restaurant, customers can filter for reusable tableware, plastic-free packaging, accepting of bring-your-own containers; restaurant owners can update the settings, customers can suggest changes to Yelp
South Korea amending food packaging standards
Notification submitted to the World Trade Organization (WTO); notes changes planned to common manufacturing standards, allowing use of additional recycled plastic resins; comment period open until May 30, 2020
Nano- and Microplastics from Food Contact Containers: Unveiling the Known and the Unknown
Notification of SVHCs to be required under EU waste directive
Amendment to EU waste framework directive foresees obligation for suppliers to notify ECHA of SVHCs present in articles, aims to create transparent and non-toxic material cycles for circular economy
Proposal to allow easier removal of US FDA notifications
Amendment to current regulations would allow US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to withdraw food contact notifications (FCNs) for reasons other than safety; creates pathway for companies to de-list substances they no longer manufacture
Effects of non-persistent chemicals on human sex selection
Paternal BPA and select phthalate metabolites associated with an excess of female births, contrary shown for maternal preconception exposure
10 EU Member States at risk of not reaching packaging waste recycling targets by 2025
European Environment Agency (EEA) reports on recycling targets; 10 Member States at risk of missing 65% packaging waste recycling rate by 2025; 19 members struggle to meet 50% plastic packaging recycling quota; upcoming packaging and packaging waste revision to include reuse and refill targets
Opinions: Toxic chemicals in everyday products
Article in New York Times outlines the issue of exposure to toxic chemicals from common products and the consequences for human health