Food Safety and Standards Authority of India notifies WTO of draft food packaging regulations containing 17 standards for food contact materials; comments accepted for 60 days
Opinion: FDA ‘rushing to judgement’ on BPA
Article in Environmental Health News discusses main goal of CLARITY-BPA program and U.S. FDA’s premature conclusions on BPA hazards
U.S. bans 5 phthalates in children’s products
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission adopts final rule restricting use of DIBP, DnPP, DnHP, DCHP and DINP in toys and child care articles; rule takes effect on April 25, 2018
New European commissioner targets non-toxic material cycles
European Commissioner for the Internal Market (DG Grow) commits to removing hazardous substances from material cycles in first address to Parliamentary committee on environment; aims to harmonize rules for substances of very high concern (SVHCs), update REACH legislation to manage endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
Japan implements positive list rules for FCMs
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare releases draft regulatory amendments to implement positive list-based system for food contact materials, to come into force by mid-2020
EC’s proposal for regulating printed FCMs
EU Commission publishes proposal for new regulatory approach for Union measure on printed FCMs, discussed during May 2017 meeting of working group on FCMs with Member States
Update: India’s ban on single-use plastic items
India officially adopts Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021; bans import, manufacture, and sale of plastic candy and ice cream sticks, plates, cups, cutlery, trays, and certain wrapping films after July 1, 2022
2021 FPF Workshop: Understanding supply chains and improving policies
On the second day of the Food Packaging Forum’s annual workshop, speakers discuss the investments necessary to understand complex food and packaging supply chains and the benefits of taking the time to do so; assessing plastic circularity through a more honest assessment of the post-consumer life of plastics; the ongoing work of European Commission’s food contact materials policy revision
FCM chemicals within EU assessment programs
Wide range of hazardous chemicals being evaluated across EU programs for industrial chemicals are also potentially used in food contact materials (FCM); analysis by the Food Packaging Forum reviews recently added chemicals, urges prioritizing known hazardous chemicals in FCMs
Netherlands add tax for plastic takeaway packaging
As of July 1, 2023, single-use plastic takeaway packaging requires additional price in the Netherlands; reusable alternative must be offered; usage of single-use plastic for dine-in guests banned as of January 1, 2024