Open letter by 27 NGOs urges EU Commission to publish outcome of fitness evaluation of EU’s non-REACH chemical policies ahead of major conference, requests clarification of timelines to deliver strategy for non-toxic environment
Which plastic food containers are safe to reuse?
Plastics are complex materials with many chemical and physical properties; when considering chemical exposure, “safe” can be difficult to define; the Food Packaging Forum provides four tips for safer use of reusable food packaging
EU launches app about SVHCs in products
AskREACH project’s ‘Scan4Chem’ app allows consumers to scan product barcodes and retrieve information on presence of substances of very high concern (SVHCs); users can also submit information requests to companies, see all requests and responses across EU countries
FCM-relevant AOP research
Scientists explore adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) associated with bisphenols, phthalates, perchlorate, food additives, microplastics; discuss ways of using AOPs to predict chemical hazards, assess mixture toxicity
12 SVHCs added to REACH authorization list
EU Commission places 12 substances of very high concern on the Authorisation List of the REACH regulation; 3 substances relevant for food contact materials
ECHA recommends 7 SVHCs for authorization
ECHA prioritizes 7 substances of very high concern to be added to REACH Authorisation List; 6 substances potentially relevant for food contact
Multi-criteria framework to prioritize polymers of concern
Scientists develop holistic conceptual framework to characterize and rank the environmental risks of plastic polymers; tool can support targeted investment and mitigation strategies
ECHA: 2016 SVHC roadmap report
ECHA releases annual report on progress in identifying substances of very high concern; calls on companies to improve REACH registration data to assess chemicals’ hazards and risks; will focus more on groups of structurally similar substances
ECHA: 5 new SVHCs
New additions to Candidate List of substances of very high concern; UV-filters and perfluorinated compound among candidates
Study shows plausibility of PFAS from fluorinated HDPE containers contaminating food
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame detect PFAS & PFCAs in food stored in fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers for one week; authors recommend regulations on food contact uses