Swiss multinational food and drink company holds inauguration event for new institute to focus on food packaging research; focus to be placed on re-useable packaging, simplifying packaging design, transitioning to paper and biodegradable and compostable plastics
Guidance document for PMT/vPvM substances
German Environment Agency (UBA) provides updated guidelines for identifying substances that are persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) or very persistent and very mobile (vPvM); finds 260 REACH registered substances meet set criteria, prioritizes 122 for further investigation
CHEM Trust: EU FCM laws need an update
Article discusses regulatory complexity caused by lack of harmonized EU FCM laws, failure to integrate REACH, increase in national regulations to address gaps; suggests considering positive list approach taken under drinking water directive
DG SANCO stakeholder meeting on FCMs
European Commission holds working group meeting on food contact materials with stakeholders from Member States, industry and public interest.
Kraft-Heinz called to address phthalates
Petition organized by coalition calls on food manufacturer to remove sources of phthalates in its products; organizers blocked from delivering signatures and call on public and governments to act
Update: EDC criteria and guidance document
EU Commission publishes regulation on EDC criteria for biocides, to be applied from June 7, 2018; draft guidance to implement EDC criteria expected in early December 2017
OECD survey: Public favors stronger regulation of harmful chemicals
Global survey carried out by the OECD asks public about attitudes towards chemicals; 75% aware of health risks posed by chemicals; 82% support stronger government interventions
IARC: Styrene ‘probably carcinogenic’
International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that styrene and styrene-6,8-oxide are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’
ACC says BPA is safe for use in food contact materials
The American Chemistry Council responds to a new scientific study on the effects of BPA on thyroid function
BPA replacement also interferes with the endocrine system at low doses
New study shows that BPS, a BPA replacement, leads to cell proliferation at low doses and interferes with normal estradiol induced signaling pathways