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FPF publishes food contact chemicals database

Researchers led by the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) publish new database identifying over 12,200 distinct chemicals that could be used in manufacture of food contact materials and articles; 29% lacking openly accessible toxicity data; 608 identified as most hazardous, prioritized for substitution; published study and database freely accessible

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National Academies workshop on microplastics

U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine hold two-day workshop on emerging technologies to advance microplastics research, address environmental health questions; recorded speaker presentations and other information now available

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Reports highlight reuse benefits and plastics recycling shortcomings

International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) report details current recycling schemes; concludes waste management techniques not “capable of alleviating” the growing plastic pollution crisis; recommends government actions to reduce plastic production; Break Free From Plastic follows up on 215 packaging commitments from top plastic pollution producing companies: 18 projects with no information after press release, few projects lessen plastic production; Upstream compares single-use and reusable service ware for environmental impact and business cost, finds “reuse wins”

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Workshop discusses developments in read-across

Journal article presents summary of presentations and discussions from European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (Ecetoc) workshop; finds new approach methodologies useful for read-across in chemical safety assessments, identifies areas for improvement

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CHEM Trust launches website focused on EDCs

New site to serve as resource for concerned consumers on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); provides overview of the substances and how they can impact human and environmental health; specific page provides guidance for food contact materials and articles

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Four food contact chemicals added to SVHC candidate list

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) adds five new chemicals to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC) and expands listing of a sixth; five of the six have been measured in food contact articles; listing obligates producers and suppliers to provide safety information and to notify ECHA; candidate list now contains 240 substances