Zurich University of Applied Sciences holds annual symposium; developments in sustainability, migration, and active and intelligent packaging discussed
Member States endorse a strong REACH revision
Ministers of environment from 8 EU Member States write open letter to EU Commission to uphold the original ambitions of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability during the REACH revision and elsewhere in EU policy; Commission should set date for when hazardous chemicals must be out of consumer products; regulations should include essential use concept, risk assessment of chemicals mixtures
Public consultation on REACH review
European Commission (EC) opens a public consultation period concerning the revision of REACH regulation; REACH is responsible for outlining chemical assessment procedures in the EU; possible updates include assessing chemical mixtures, simplifying safety data sheets, and incorporating essential-use concept; consultation period open until April 15, 2022
Viewpoint: Subthreshold effects need consideration in chemical risk assessment
Scientists point out chemical risk assessments worldwide neglect current scientific knowledge; advocate to consider potential subthreshold effects in regulatory risk assessment
EEB priorities for upcoming EU chemical strategy
Non-governmental organization European Environmental Bureau (EEB) publishes position paper setting 8 priorities for upcoming EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability; calls for revision of food contact materials legislation, creation of chemical substitution forums and technical support centers for small and medium sized businesses, ‘polluter pays’ tax
Study: migration into dry foods higher than US FDA assumption
Comprehensive literature review in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants investigates substance migration into dry foods and food simulants; review analyses: foods off store shelves, foods and food simulants in experimental settings, food particle characteristics, and packaging material; finds migration commonly exceeds 50 µg/kg assumed migration rate of dry foods according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
EFSA publishes final opinion and protocol for phthalates in FCMs
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes final scientific opinion on prioritization of phthalates used in food contact materials (FCMs), protocol for dietary exposure assessment of prioritized substances; documents remain largely the same as the drafts with addition of a few substances and more clarity on the prioritization process; EFSA calls for information on migration of phthalates and other plasticizers in FCMs, input being accepted from June 1 to November 1, 2022
Critical review discusses biobased plastics
Article evaluates pros, cons, and improvement potential of biobased polymers looking at production, end-of-life, environmental, and toxicological impacts; regards bioplastics as promising alternative but not without issues; emphasizes importance of considering economic, social, environmental, and legislative issues when scaling up biobased plastics
Putting the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability into action: Setting the scene
First webinar within Food Packaging Forum’s Spring 2021 webinar series on challenges and opportunities for food contact materials within the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; features two expert talks on hazardous chemicals and a history of safe and sustainable chemistry to support implementation of the strategy
World Health Assembly adopts resolution on chemicals, waste, and pollution
Resolution calls on World Health Organization Member States to increase work on potential human health impacts of plastics, links between chemical exposures, and health; recognizes people are exposed to many chemicals but majority have not been well studied