Costa Rican government commits to eliminating single-use plastic items by 2021; intends to promote biodegradable, water-soluble, and renewable materials
China approves six food contact substances
National Health Commission announces approval of two additives, three additives with expanded scope, one new food contact resin
DG SANCO meets FCM stakeholders
European Commission’s DG SANCO convenes food contact material (FCM) stakeholders, discloses modified working plan for 2014
Lidl and Colruyt trial Eco-Score label
Retailers Lidl and Colruyt announce testing front-of-pack EcoScore label; uses life cycle assessment to estimate ecological footprint based on climate change, water use, land use, acidification; considers packaging recyclability; if test-phase successful Lidl will consider implementation in all its German locations
Report critically reviews brands’ plastics commitments
New report by the Changing Markets Foundation investigates commitments on plastic packaging made by largest food and consumer goods companies; criticizes consistently failed promises, sees voluntary initiatives as tactics to distract from and avoid responsibility
EU Court of Justice rules in favor of ECHA identifying BPA as SVHC
Trade body PlasticsEurope loses fourth legal case concerning regulations of bisphenol A (BPA); European Court of Justice supports ECHA’s classification of BPA as substance of high very high concern (SVHC)
Public consultation on marine microplastic pollution
EU Commission launches public consultation on policy options to reduce microplastics entering the oceans; consultation open to all citizens until October 16, 2017
Outcomes and recommendations from EFSA’s ONE Conference
Published journal article and conference report from European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) conference in June 2022 summarize main outcomes and recommendations; includes investing to keep up with new science, capitalizing on data, future preparedness, and applying one health approach in future decision making
Costco screens products for hazardous chemicals
U.S. retailer Costco launches testing of consumer products for chemicals of concern; list of target chemicals and long-term goals of screening program not disclosed
U.S. consumers confused about compostable and biodegradable food packaging labels
Half of surveyed people have difficulty with the difference between compostable and biodegradable; 50% of participants fail to dispose of packaging correctly; report suggests better standardization and consumer education needed