Opening session at EFSA conference 2018 addresses recognition and management of values in risk assessment and decision making, discusses factors important for fit-for-purpose risk assessment
Asian governments aim to expand recycled content in plastic FCMs
Overview article examines recent commitments by South Korea, China, and Thailand to launch or expand approval of recycled plastics for use in food contact materials (FCMs); lack of regional definition of ‘food grade plastic’ seen as stumbling block to many local recyclers in meeting growing demand
OECD urges restricted substances list for plastics
OECD report suggests establishing global list of restricted substances for plastics manufacturing in order to ‘support quality and consistency in recycling’
Not all OECD test guidelines appropriate for nanomaterials
OECD publishes report on January 2013 expert meeting on ecotoxicology and environmental fate of nanomaterials, discusses appropriateness of OECD test guidelines for nanomaterials
Maine, US to ban BPA from infant food packaging
The Board of Environmental Protection of Maine, US voted on a BPA ban from infant food packaging, the ban will now be voted on by the Legislature
Coating helps products to slide out of containers
New coating LiquiGlide developed by US researchers, creates extra layer between container and liquid that can slide out easier
UK government discusses toxic chemicals
UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee enquires into ‘Toxic chemicals in everyday life,’ hears evidence on chemical exposure, discusses post-Brexit regulatory situation for chemicals in products including food contact materials
EFSA addresses polymeric additive
EFSA considers ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer wax safe for food contact
FDA denies action on perchlorates in antistatics
U.S. FDA supports industry petition and revokes use of potassium perchlorate in sealing gaskets for food containers; denies action on NGO petition to revoke perchlorate use in antistatic agents in food contact articles
Fitness of EU chemicals legislation
European Consumer Organisation concerned over implications of Commission’s fitness check on chemicals legislation for consumer safety