European Parliament criticizes EFSA’s draft independence policy; calls on EFSA to introduce comprehensive cooling-off period for experts, consider research funding among assessed interests, apply policy consistently to all staff
Measures to limit chemical migration from recycled paperboard
Review identifies and discusses three approaches to limit chemical migration from recycled paperboard to make it acceptable for food applications; considers internal bags with an incorporated barrier, barrier layers, and functional sorbents added to the board; study on migration from paper cups identifies exposures to vanadium and fluoride
Ellen MacArthur Foundation publishes new upstream innovation guide
New report on upstream innovation introduces mindset, gives guidance to implement elimination, reuse, and material recirculation; demonstrates successful implementation in several case studies; provides interactive resources to stakeholders
EFSA publishes draft opinion and protocol for phthalates in FCMs
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes draft opinion on prioritization of phthalates used in food contact materials (FCMs), protocol for dietary exposure assessment of prioritized substances; both documents open for public comment until December 16, 2021
ECHA proposes not approving 4 silver compounds in FCMs
European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) announces opinion not approving silver compounds for application in food contact materials (FCMs); includes silver zinc zeolite, silver zeolite, silver copper zeolite, silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate; finds risk unacceptable for human health; next meeting scheduled in June 2021
How to regulate polymers?
Chemical Watch commentary addresses the nature of polymerization reactions, provides technical background information explaining the challenges in the registration of polymers under REACH
OECD report on polymeric PFAS
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) publishes synthesis report on less well-studied sub-group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – polymeric PFAS; finds that these polymers can contain sizeable amounts of non-polymeric PFAS or can degrade into them; polymeric PFAS seen as ‘long-term significant sources’ of PFAS in the environment and in living organisms
New initiative: Planet or plastic?
National Geographic launces initiative ‘Planet or Plastic?’ focusing on environmental impact of single-use plastics, releases dedicated June issue
Wrap: packaging encourages household food waste
UK civil society organization Wrap finds selling produce without plastic packaging and date labels would save 100,000 tons food and 10,300 tons plastic in UK yearly; fruits and vegetables studied have the same shelf life without packaging; packaging sizes encourage overconsumption; date labeling encourages early disposal; Foodwatch petitions German government to ban plastic packaging for produce by 2026
Ghana publishes roadmap for ‘radical’ reduction of plastic pollution
Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership publishes roadmap to reduce plastic use and pollution in the country; includes 11 case studies of projects already underway; outlines strategies for both public and private institutions to contribute to the vision