European Commission launches new research partnership, first call for research into bio-based materials
Chemical composition of consumer products
Ensia article outlines efforts of U.S. states to demand information on chemicals of concern in consumer products from companies
ChemSec’s advice to speed up SVHC listing
NGO International Chemical Secretariat urges European Chemicals Agency’s director to encourage ‘better use’ of precautionary principle in order to speed up SVHC identification, resist industry pressure
What are bioplastics? New fact sheet answers common questions
Food Packaging Forum publishes fact sheet about bioplastics; clarifies the meaning of the terms “bio-based” and “biodegradable;” discusses aspects of bioplastic production, chemical safety, and implications for bioplastics use and disposal
FPF Workshop 2017: Chinese legislation for FCMs
Marco Zhong from China’s National Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials presents the ongoing reform of Chinese legislation for FCMs, discusses challenges for regulation, enforcement, and compliance
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
Opinion on polymers under REACH
Paul Ashford from Anthesis-Caleb consultancy discusses challenges in ‘dealing with polymers under REACH,” calls for clear guidance on substance identification of polymers; EU project aims to identify ‘polymers of concern’
In vitro bioassays for FCMs
Austrian research institute for chemistry and technology holds information event on bioassays for food contact materials on March 8, 2017 in Vienna
ECHA: New database on SVHCs in articles by 2021
ECHA to launch database on presence of substances of very high concern in articles by late 2019; information to be provided by industry and available to waste treatment operators and consumers
Registration of polymers in REACH
NGO ChemSec argues that registering polymers under REACH is ‘overdue’; registration would provide vital information about polymers’ properties and use