International convention announces multi-stakeholder partnership to prevent and improve management of plastic waste, particularly for single-use plastics; focuses on better design of plastics to increase durability, re-usability, avoid hazardous substances
Silk protein food coating
Researchers develop edible food coating made from fibroin protein; show potential for improved preservation of perishable foods
Health costs of PFAS estimated
Nordic Co-operation publishes socioeconomic analysis of environmental and human health impacts from exposure to PFAS; estimates EEA member countries incur 52 to 84 billion Euro in PFAS-related health costs annually
FDA issues final rule to streamline food contact notification process
U.S. Food and Drug Administration implements new rule on food contact authorization; aimed at enhancing food chemical safety administrative processes; enables administration to assess substances beyond safety considerations; effective on May 21, 2024
Print-related food contaminants
Identity and set-off assessed for print-related contaminants by three different mass spectrometry methods; most compounds show evidence for set-off
Health effects of PFAS exposure
Epidemiologists examine possible associations between PFAS exposure and metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, fetal and child development
European Commission president announces new team
President of the European Commission announces new team of vice-presidents and commissioners, reduced focus on chemical regulation and the environment
Court upholds BPA listing as reproductive toxicant
California court of appeal publishes final opinion; defends mechanism used by state government agency to identify bisphenol A (BPA) as reproductive toxicant under Proposition 65 legislation
European Bioplastics Conference 2015
European Bioplastics hosts annual conference on November 5-6, 2015 in Berlin, Germany
Tesco to exclude brands with non-recyclable packaging
UK supermarket chain announces it will reserve right to not list brands with too much non-recyclable packaging starting in 2020; non-recyclable materials in own brands to be eliminated