Government publishes draft screening assessment of 7 parabens, identifies 4 to present danger to human health or environment at current levels of exposure; proposed risk management published; findings open for public comment until May 13, 2020
BPA still in food cans
Extensive analysis in the U.S. and Canada finds most food cans still coated with BPA-based epoxy; BPA-free alternatives may be questionable
China approves new and expanded usage of FCMs
Law firm Keller and Heckman publishes a summary of China’s recently approved uses of 19 materials and substances for food contact; includes three new food contact chemicals (FCCs), seven new resins, and expanded usage of nine other materials; three substances are in the Food Packaging Forum’s food contact chemicals database as either a priority hazardous substance or substance of potential concern
Canada publishes BPA survey
Canadian survey detects BPA in 1.5% of samples; BPA migration not considered a public health concern
France to restrict sale of fruits and vegetables in plastic
France announces ban on sale of unprocessed fruits and vegetables packaged in plastic from January 1, 2022; will not apply to products over 1.5 kg, sensitive fruits, and vegetables; use of stickers on individual fruits and vegetables not allowed unless made from paper or compostable materials; rules to apply to all produce
Health Canada: Bisphenol A from dietary exposure is safe
Health Canada reaffirmed its earlier conclusion that dietary exposure to Bisphenol A is not thought to pose a health risk
Efforts to track plastic flows in EU and Canada
EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) publishes improved model of plastic product flows and recycling in the EU; new model design is easy to update when new information becomes publicly available; Canada consulting on a draft plastic products registry to track plastic flows in the country
Canada lists food contact substances as toxic
Canadian government adds 3 substances relevant for food contact materials to country’s list of toxic substances
Canada to update chemicals management
Canadian public health department opens public consultation to define ‘vulnerable populations,’ aims to improve chemicals management with future consultations on endocrine disruptors and mixture toxicity
China approves expanded usage for two FCMs
China sets new limits for 2 food contact materials; polyethylene can be added at 0.3% to polyoxymethylene (POM); carboxy styrene-butadiene latex can be added to pressure-sensitive adhesives used in indirect food contact