New platform made up of high-level experts, aims to simplify EU laws and reduce administrative burden; call for stakeholder experts open until June 19, 2020; online Have Your Say portal will allow all citizens and stakeholders to contribute
Phthalates found in 'mac and cheese'
Phthalates found in 29 out of 30 tested U.S. cheese products; concentrations higher in processed compared to unprocessed cheeses; highest phthalate content found in powdered cheese from ‘mac and cheese’ ready meals
Alternatives to perfluorinated chemicals
New study reviews environmental releases, persistence and exposure of perfluorinated chemical alternatives, looks at 20 fluorinated substances including eight used in FCMs
Nano risk governance model project
Horizon 2020 funded project launched focusing on developing a nano risk governance model, aims to explore upcoming tools and approaches as well as support prioritization and harmonization of practices among stakeholders
EPA puts LVE submissions for PFAS on hold
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announces new strategy for reviewing and managing low volume exemption (LVE) requests of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) before they can enter the market; puts pending and new submissions for PFAS on hold, strives for more thorough review, wants to work with companies on voluntary withdrawals
NGO petitions German government to ban plastic packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables
Civil society organization Foodwatch Germany is petitioning the German government to follow the lead of France and Spain in banning plastic packaging for fresh fruits and vegetables; claims ban would save more than 60,000 tons of plastic waste; French ban went into effect January 2022, Spain plans ban for 2023, Foodwatch petitions Germany for ban by 2026
Overview of use, migration, and hazards of PFAS in food contact materials
Peer-reviewed study provides overview of 68 PFAS in food packaging and other food contact articles; majority of detected PFAS not found in regulatory or industry inventories; PFAS data of FCCmigex dashboard updated
European industry associations report latest recycling rates
On average, 80.2% of glass packaging collected for recycling in 2022 in the EU; Steel recycling rate reaches 80.5%; 70% recycling rate for paper and board in the UK in 2023; 40% recycling rate for plastics in the EU in 2021
A new roadmap to transform the European chemical industry
European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) and European Commission publish roadmap to incorporate EU goals for the green and digital transformation into the chemicals sector by 2050; defines nearly 200 actions for the chemical industry with technological investments, and regulatory steps necessary; implementation expected to begin spring 2023
BPA masculinizes female brains
New results from FDA’s BPA low dose study show significant effects on female rat brains at lowest dose