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Nature Food study finds gaps in food system plastics research

Systematic scoping review assesses the research literature covering plastic’s effects on human health, the environment, and food security/economics through the entire food system from 2000 through 2018; includes over 3,300 studies; found majority of previous research focused on food security/economics; identified gaps related to studies on the effect of plastics on human health, meta-analyses, and research within low-income nations

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Stakeholders discuss global plastic treaty

Friends of Europe hosts online debate bringing together stakeholder groups from industry, regulatory agencies, and NGOs; considers how to achieve a circular plastics economy, discusses the necessity of a global plastic treaty, prevention of plastic waste trade and illegal waste dumping, extended producer responsibility schemes (EPRs), need for unified EU plastic waste market; discussions build on report by European Environment Agency, case study by Zero Waste Europe and report by Ellen MacArthur Foundation

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Ukraine aligns with EU packaging and chemical regulations

Ukraine moving to align chemical and packaging regulations with EU standards; proposes regulations to align with Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP), and Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations; World Trade Organization notifications open for comment until June 19 and July 4, 2023, respectively

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FPF comments on US EPA draft plastics strategy

Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comment to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the draft national strategy to prevent plastic pollution; FPF highlights aspects of food packaging and chemical safety for EPA to consider; primarily (i) how the EPA may be able to support reuse, (ii) encouraging ratification of the Basel Convention; (iii) clarifying “compostable” and “inert”; strategy comment period extended to July 31, 2023

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Study maps intentionally added substances in plastics

Scientists investigate plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids for their chemical identity, use, and hazard classification; identify >10,000 chemicals; 24% categorized as substances of potential concern of which the majority is not currently subject to management measures; emphasize information gaps regarding substance properties and uses