South Africa announces new ‘Source to Sea’ initiative to fight plastic pollution, considers actions on microbeads and single-use plastics, plans to boost recycling and consumer awareness
US EPA calls for comments on national recycling strategy
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes draft strategy focusing on reducing contamination, increasing processing efficiency, improving markets for recycled materials; aims to address set of key problems within current recycling system; open for public comment until December 4, 2020
Chemical footprinting: First annual report
Chemical Footprint Project releases inaugural report; provides insights into leading companies’ chemicals management
ECHA committees agree on restriction of 4 phthalates
ECHA’s Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis support proposal to ban endocrine disrupting phthalates DEHP, DBP, DIBP, and BBP in various articles; all 4 substances relevant for food contact materials
JRC report on nanomaterial definitions
EU Commission Joint Research Centre report describes concepts and terms for nanomaterial legislation in EU, aims to support harmonized implementation across regulatory contexts
Second REACH review published
European Commission releases second review of REACH regulation, highlights how REACH enhanced chemical safety, suggests actions for improvement
Printing ink compounds detected in foods
UK survey finds eight different printing ink chemicals in food samples as well as their packaging
Exposures and Latent Disease Risk: Identifying Hallmarks and Key Characteristics
EFSA opinion on PFOA and PFOS in food
EFSA scientific opinion suggests revision of tolerable intake values for two perfluoroalkyl substances