News from the EU Commission on food contact materials
EU Commission plans authorization of two new substances for use in food contact plastics, postpones discussions on new ceramics legislation and discusses Declaration of Compliance issues
Endocrine-active chemicals in baby bottles
Scientists test 65 chemicals migrating from ‘BPA-free’ baby bottles in a panel of in vitro assays for effects on seven receptors; 12 chemicals show no activity, 53 activate or inhibit at least one of the tested receptors
Sustainability in Focus: From Environmentally-friendly Packaging to Responsible Ingredients Sourcing
Growing demand for mono-material packaging
Report by Smithers predicts compound annual growth rate of 3.8% for mono-material plastic packaging films on global market; sees fast growth for polyethylene and polypropylene, slow growth for regenerated cellulose fiber, decline for polyvinyl chloride materials
Food contact chemicals among 921 substances tied to breast cancer risk
Researchers expand list of known substances with characteristics linked to breast cancer by more than four-fold; many are in standard consumer products, including 189 in food contact according to FPF’s database on migrating and extractable food contact chemicals (FCCmigex); authors call for improved hazard identification methods, advocate for more comprehensive chemical testing, especially focusing on the mammary gland and broader range of chemicals
EC publishes BPA roadmap
DG SANTE releases roadmap on new measures on BPA in FCMs; different options from no policy change to EU-wide ban on BPA in FCMs discussed and assessed
EFSA assesses monomer for polycarbonate FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers dimethyl carbonate safe for making polycarbonate repeated-use food contact articles, under certain conditions
Lead and arsenic in food contact paper
Low migration of lead and arsenic measured in food contact paper bought in Korea; resulting human exposure estimated to be within safe levels
European FCM regulation challenged
Workshop at the European Parliament discusses several major challenges to current FCM regulation and enforcement, unites diverse stakeholders in their call for improvements