News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
March 22, 2021
Latest published report focuses on the effects of COVID-19 on happiness across countries and regions, describes and evaluates how governments have dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic; applies Wellby (Well-Being-Adjusted Life-Years) approach to account for length and quality of life, measures progress
Reading time: 0 minutes
March 22, 2021
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes administrative guide on how to submit applications for new active, intelligent materials and articles intended for food contact; describes procedures, timelines for handling applications; will be updated as necessary
Reading time: 1 minute
March 19, 2021
Group of 67 scientists send letter to new US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, requesting class-based ban on all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) except for essential uses; argue this would provide efficient process to greatly reduce exposure, further recommend EPA to require toxicity testing of widely present PFAS
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 19, 2021
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes administrative guide on how to submit applications for new plastic recycling processes for products intended for food contact; describes procedures, timelines for handling applications; will be updated as necessary
Reading time: 1 minute
March 16, 2021
New report by International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) highlights the effects toxic chemicals have on women, special vulnerabilities faced from toxic exposure; provides recommendations to safeguard the health of women, includes focusing on phasing out hazardous chemicals highly impacting women, preventing pregnant women from working with hazardous chemicals
Topics: chemical exposure, human health
Reading time: 0 minutes
March 16, 2021
Minutes from recent meetings of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) CEP panel and working groups on bisphenol A (BPA), food contact materials (FCMs), recycling plastics, and phthalates published; groups continue discussions and revisions of draft opinions; new working group on re-evaluation of phthalates and structurally similar substances in FCMs launched
Reading time: 3 minutes
March 16, 2021
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches public consultation on identifying eight new substances of very high concern (SVHCs); four are food contact chemicals (FCCs): bisphenol B, 1,4-dioxane, medium-chain chlorinated paraffins (MCCP), and phenol alkylation products with C12-rich branched or linear alkyl chains from oligomerization (PDDP); open for public comment until April 23, 2021
Reading time: 1 minute
March 15, 2021
Article in Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety discusses alternatives for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in paper food packaging; considers lamination with waxes and polymer films, alternative surface sizing and coatings; views finding cost-effective, fully biodegradable, and environmentally friendly alternatives challenging
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 12, 2021
French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) proposes listing bisphenol B as REACH substance of very high concern (SVHC), suggests bisphenol B is an even more dangerous endocrine disruptor than bisphenol A; public consultation for identification dossier open until April 23, 2021
Reading time: 1 minute
March 11, 2021
European Environment Bureau (EEB) reviews progress of EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP), highlights successes and challenges; finds many EU countries missed 2020 targets for recycling, waste prevention targets needed; European Parliament calling for targets to reduce resource use by 2030; EU Commission planning publication of guidelines for Single-Use Plastic Directive, clarification of rules for biobased and biodegradable plastics, introduction of legislation to mandate using harmonized Life Cycle Assessment method
Reading time: 0 minutes
