News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
March 10, 2021
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes update on risk assessment of hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDDs); results support conclusion that dietary exposure in EU not a health concern except for breastfed children; panel will consider mixture approach once risk assessments of all groups of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) updated
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 8, 2021
Drug store chain Rite Aid expands its chemicals policy to cover food contact materials (FCMs); restricted substances list sets concentration limits, does not allow intentional use in food packaging of various heavy metals, all ortho-phthalates, all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Topics: bisphenol, bisphenol A, bisphenol B, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, heavy metals, PFAS, phthalates
Reading time: 1 minute
March 5, 2021
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 18 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS)
Topics: FDA, food packaging
Reading time: 3 minutes
March 4, 2021
EU Court of Justice’s General Advocate recommends ban on bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC); previous decision considered inadequate as it disregards endocrine disrupting properties of DEHP; NGO criticizes REACH lacking necessary tools to manage recycled materials
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 1, 2021
Food Packaging Forum’s 2021 workshop to take place virtually in three sessions on October 6th, 7 th, and 8th, 2021; expert talks and discussion sessions to focus on understanding different perspectives and working together to make food contact materials safer; registration now open
Reading time: 1 minute
March 1, 2021
First webinar on March 18, 2021, within Food Packaging Forum's (FPF) webinar series on challenges and opportunities for food contact materials within the EU's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; will feature two expert talks on hazardous chemicals and on a history of safe and sustainable chemistry to support implementation of the strategy; registration open and free
Topics: chemicals strategy, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 1, 2021
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes statement that proclaims no scientific evidence for SARS-CoV-2 transmission via contaminated food or food packaging
Reading time: 1 minute
March 1, 2021
Article published in Science lays out key knowledge gaps hindering human health risk assessments of microplastics, highlights lack of analytical tools to assess small microplastics and nanoplastics; estimated low exposure does not imply low risk
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
February 26, 2021
European Commission (EC) policy officer discusses benefits of revising Article 3 of existing food contact material (FCM) Regulation 1935/2004, suggests this would ensure ‘future-proof’ legislation; alternative approaches being considered based on amending existing legislation; considers fee for chemical assessment and market surveillance
Reading time: 1 minute
February 25, 2021
Academic scientists from the International Panel on Chemical Pollution (IPCP) publish article in journal Science, call for creation of new global science-policy body to address pollution from chemicals and waste; new body to provide scientific basis for international and national action via authoritative assessments, identifying emerging concerns, connecting policy makers to scientists
Topics: regulation, science-policy
Reading time: 2 minutes
