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China revises standard on metals in FCMs

National Health Commission opens public consultation on 16 food safety standards; sets stricter limits for metals used in food contact materials (FCMs), removes use of 4% acetic acid as food simulant; comments accepted until October 20, 2020

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Organizations sue US FDA over failure to react on phthalates in FCMs

Earthjustice files case in a federal court on behalf of eight civil society organizations; calls on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to come to a final decision on a petition filed in 2016 within 60 days; petition argues safe use of phthalates can no longer be proven and calls for a ban in all food contact materials (FCMs)

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Researchers report NIAS migration from baby food pouches

Study performs migration testing on 79 plastic baby food pouches; finds four bisphenols, five phthalic acid diesters in targeted analysis and 26 more in suspect screening including 23 non-intentionally added substances (NIAS); NIAS adipic acid – diethylene glycol exceeds the threshold of toxicological concern in 40% of the pouches

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Amazon restricts 17 chemicals in FCMs

Amazon announces ban on 17 chemicals in food packaging; includes per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), expanded polystyrene (EPS); restricted substance list (RSL) applies to Amazon Go, Amazon Go Grocery, Amazon Fresh, and Fresh grocery delivery

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Recycling food-grade plastics in the EU

Recycling Today reports on the challenges of supplying food-grade recycled plastics even as commitments increase; European Commission registers Citizens’ Initiative to create plastic bottle deposit and extended producer responsibility system in EU; World Wildlife Fund Germany investigates packaging system to find ways to increase circularity, encourages reuse over recycling

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FPF comments on EFSA’s phthalates prioritization strategy

Food Packaging Forum (FPF) finds that the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) planned approach lacks clear recommendation for removing known hazardous chemicals from food contact materials; prioritization of food contact chemicals of concern should be based on hazard properties in alignment with the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability

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Hazardous chemicals in European products: new SCIP database

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches database of all notifications from EU companies of products containing Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs); contains over 4 million article notifications from 6000 companies; includes articles such as food processors; Swedish Chemicals Agency launches pilot project to identify potentially hazardous chemicals early in product design process