Group of five EU national authorities launch online questionnaire to collect information on the uses and alternatives to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); plan to develop wide-ranging joint restriction proposal on uses of PFAS; information accepted until end of July 2020
FPF Workshop 2018: Assessing the safety of food packaging
Experts identify challenges for risk assessment and management of food contact chemicals, present toxicity tests and analytical tools for safer food packaging
ECHA strategy report highlights grouping
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publishes annual report of its Integrated Regulatory Strategy; presents results from recent review of registered substances with annual volumes greater than 100 tons, finds 56% lacking data; grouping approach helping to speed up regulatory actions, improve consistency
US FCM phthalate exposure prevention act introduced
Senators Dianne Feinstein and Kirsten Gillibrand introduce the Preventing Harmful Exposure to Phthalates Act into the US Senate; Representatives Ted Lieu and Katie Porter introduce companion legislation in the House of Representatives; bill would “prohibit [the] use of ortho-phthalates in food contact substances, including food packaging materials” (FCMs)
BPA linked to hyperactivity
Meta-analysis substantiates BPA’s link to hyperactivity in children
BPA in various food products
Environmental Working Group launches database with over 16,000 food products possibly in contact with BPA-containing food packaging
Long-term migration from epoxy and acrylic-phenolic coatings
Scientists assess short- and long-term migration from epoxy and acrylic-phenolic can coatings into food simulants; standard migration protocols need to be modified to better predict migration after long-term storage
Study investigates fetal exposure to bisphenols
Study of 60 pregnant women finds frequent and high concentrations of bisphenols in maternal plasma, cord plasma, placenta
FPF Workshop 2016: Enforcement, migration, and BPA
Enforcement of migration limits, industry standards, and research collaboration between regulators and academics to investigate BPA’s low-dose toxicity discussed at the FPF 2016 workshop
EFSA Scientific Opinion: BPA exposure of no risk to consumers
Tolerable daily intake of BPA reduced, current exposure levels too low to cause harm