European Commission publishes new report of the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed, heavy metal migration identified as central issue
Chinese safety authority approves three polymers for FCMs, with caveats
China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment seeks comments from industry on restricting the use of three polymer paints and coatings in food contact materials for infants and children
Greenpeace report on reusables
Greenpeace launches report on reusables, argues that ‘reusables are doable’ also during the pandemic, which thus should not be used as an excuse to stick with throwaway plastics
Local U.S. ban on PFASs in food packaging
State of Washington foresees ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging by 2021 if safer alternatives can be identified
EU Member States adopt EDC criteria
EU Member States vote in favor of European Commission-proposed criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in the field of plant protection products; both industry and NGOs view adopted criteria as ‘flawed,’ call on European Parliament to veto the proposal
Global Food Contact Conference: NIAS evaluation in recycled packaging
2021 Smithers Pira conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials including a session on the risk assessment of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); Marco Zhong outlines efforts China is taking to assess NIAS in recycled and biodegradable materials for safe food contact application; Marinella Vitulli focuses on applied testing schemes for NIAS identification, stresses that the right analytical approach is key
Men’s journal advises against phthalates
Men’s Journal reports on increase in exposure to unrestricted phthalates, advises on how to avoid phthalate exposure
Efficient sorting of post-consumer PET
EU research project Polymark develops chemical marker technology to improve identification and sorting of plastic packaging and thus improve recycling
BPS may be adipogenic
Scientists show BPS treatment, similar to BPA, results in increased lipid accumulation and higher expression of adipogenesis-related genes in primary preadipocytes
Plastic additives inventory published
ECHA and Cefic publish inventory of additives added to plastics in EU; identify 419 high volume substances with various functions