Various towns in Massachusetts, US discuss banning single use plastic bags, repeal of PET bottle ban fails
Nestlé investment to create market for recycled plastics
International food and beverage company to invest over 2 billion USD to source packaging from food-grade recycled plastics; aims to create market for recycled material, launch venture fund to support packaging innovation
Epidemiology of mixtures: Xenoestrogens and breast cancer
Scientists find strong association between breast cancer risk and total burden of xenoestrogens; in contrast, individual compounds show only weak associations, if any
No specific target for the reduction of plastic bag use
European Commission adopts proposal on reduction of the use of light weight plastic bags, Member states to choose target and instruments
Washington State passes comprehensive plastics legislation
Governor for US state of Washington signs Senate Bill 5022; bans expanded polystyrene foam takeaway containers by June 2024; beginning January 1, 2022 all single-use service ware only given to customers upon request; adds minimum recycled content requirement to many plastic containers and trash bags; no longer requires triangular arrow recycle symbol on hard plastic products
EU to monitor mineral oil hydrocarbons in food
EU Commission adopts recommendation to monitor mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and in materials and articles intended for food contact; 2017-2018 monitoring data to be submitted to EFSA by February 2019
PlasticsEurope comments on official French BPA report
PlasticsEurope is concerned about the conclusions of the French Food Safety Authority report
New website on chemicals advocacy
Chemicals advocacy group Coming Clean launches website
Vote on EDC criteria on hold
EU Commission presents latest revised draft of criteria to identify endocrine disruptors to Member States; no formal vote taken; next meeting not yet scheduled
China publishes amendment to standard on uses of additives in FCMs
National Health Commission publishes draft amendment to standard on uses of additives in food contact materials (FCMs) and articles; includes correction about specific migration limits of certain chemicals