EFSA’s CEP Panel considers polyacrylic acid, sodium salt, cross‐linked safe for use in plastic food contact materials under certain conditions and for indirect food contact only
Opinions: EDC criteria without potency cut-offs
Group of international scientists and non-profit organization speak out against including potency considerations in the criteria to identify EDCs on EU-level
EU identifies four phthalates as endocrine disrupting
European Chemicals Agency identifies phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP as having endocrine disrupting properties; these substances already placed on Authorization List for being toxic to reproduction
New standard test method to identify plasticizers
ASTM International publishes method to ensure compliance with US phthalate migration standard
Health effects of PFAS exposure
Epidemiologists examine possible associations between PFAS exposure and metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, fetal and child development
European court annuls previous decision to identify TiO2 as carcinogenic
Court of Justice of the European Union reverses earlier court ruling identifying titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a carcinogen via inhalation; finds Risk Assessment Committee did not consider all necessary factors and criteria for having intrinsic hazard not met; legal institutions now responsible for addressing changes needed to adapt to court’s decision
ECHA conference sums up first year of EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) scientists, and chemical supply chain stakeholders meet online for Safer Chemicals Conference; discuss changes to chemical assessments, nanomaterials, launch of SCIP database; highlights inefficient communication between stakeholders slowing down processes
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
EU Commission’s 2nd round table meeting on EDCs
First results of EDC screening expected by autumn 2015; entire impact assessment to be finalized in 2016
EU publishes PFOA regulation
European Commission regulation restricts use of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its salts and PFOA-related compounds as a persistent organic pollutants; sets maximum concentration of 0.025 mg/kg for PFOA and salts, 1 mg/kg for related compounds; series of exemptions also in place