First meeting to draft the international plastics treaty in Dakar, Senegal taking place from May 30 to June 1, 2022 with representatives from government, industry, and civil society; technical briefing on May 29, 2022 shares information on the relationship between plastics, chemical exposure, and human health
Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)
NIAS are chemicals present in food contact materials and articles which have not been added for a technical reason. They include side products, breakdown products, and contaminants. Although more and more NIAS have been identified over time, by far not all are known. Risk assessment and management of NIAS therefore present particular challenges. The updated dossiers in English and German replace the previous edition with the DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.33514.
US FDA issues nano-guidances
US FDA publishes draft guidances on nanotechnology in food, cosmetics and animal feed; manufacturers encouraged to consult with the agency before marketing their products
Model indicates 70% reduction of microplastics by 2050 possible
Material flow analysis on microplastics provides recommendations for reducing microplastics in the Netherlands; effective measures include extension of deposit schemes on returnable plastics, research in improved recycling technologies, and “R-strategies”
MICRO 2024: Plastic Pollution from macro to nano
EU technical expert group for FCMs: Meeting presentations
DG SANTE’s technical expert group for FCMs discusses baseline study on non-harmonized FCMs, EU measure on printed FCMs, and 10th amendment to plastics regulation; presentations now available
New EU rules restrict export of plastic waste
European Commission adopts new regulation banning export of hazardous and hard to recycle plastic waste to non-OECD countries from January 1, 2021; clean and recyclable plastic exports to only be approved under strict conditions; prior informed consent required for all intra-EU shipments
Thailand proposes standards on plastic food contact articles
Thailand notifies the World Trade Organization of five draft regulations concerning plastic utensils as well as concerning microwaveable and non-microwavable plastic bags
Malaysia sets metal migration limits for ceramics
Notification to World Trade Organization (WTO) expands regulations to cover ceramic cooking ware, sets migration limits of 0.5 mg/L for lead and 0.05 mg/L for cadmium
Germany notifies WTO of MOAH restrictions
German authorities notify World Trade Organization (WTO) about intention to restrict mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food contact materials and articles made from recycled paper and board; sets migration limits into food (<0.5 mg/kg) and food simulant (<0.15 mg/kg); will come into effect three years after publication