EU Commission releases proposal for EU directive on reducing marine litter; reduced consumption, market restrictions, redesign suggested for certain single-use plastic items; public consultation open until July 24, 2018
Computational method outperforms animal tests
Predictions of acute health hazards by ‘data fusion’ read-across structure activity relationship (RASAR) modeling reported to be more reproducible than animal testing data
REACH data compliance needs improvement
European Chemicals Agency publishes annual REACH evaluation report; results show many chemical registrations continue to be missing key data
Phthalates petition: Call for comments extended
Comments to FDA petition on the use of ortho-phthalates as indirect food additives can be submitted until September 19, 2016
EU Commission restricts four phthalates
EU Commission adopts decision to restrict DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP in consumer products on EU market; food contact materials not covered
Opinion: BPA in food packaging should be illegal
Member of European Parliament suggests banning bisphenol A due to findings of French study
UV-328 qualifies for screening as POP
Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC) meeting finds antioxidant UV-328 (TINUVIN-328) fulfills all four criteria for screening as Persistent Organic Pollutant (POP) under the Stockholm Convention; next step is the preparation of a draft risk profile for the widely used plastic additive
California solicits comments on PFAS in food packaging
U.S. state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) calls for comments on uses, alternatives, and life cycle impacts of PFAS in food packaging; comment period open until January 14, 2020, public workshop to be held on the same date
New members for EC scientific committees
European Commission seeks new members for scientific committees (2016-2021); application deadline is November 2, 2015
Reactions to EU EDC criteria
Industry, environment and health groups, as well as science community mostly express criticism and disappointment over European Commission’s proposal for EDC criteria