News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
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
February 25, 2021
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) reports grouping of similar chemicals supports faster assessment; in 2020 agency screened 1900 substances, conducted 271 compliance checks, adopted 18 substances evaluation decisions
Topics: REACH, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
February 24, 2021
National Health Commission announces approval of two additives, three additives with expanded scope, one new food contact resin
Reading time: 1 minute
February 24, 2021
Department of Ecology for the US state of Washington publishes alternatives assessment for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging, identifies alternatives for four packaging types; restrictions will come into force early 2023; working draft criteria defining “safer” and “feasible and available” for alternative assessments released for public comment
Reading time: 2 minutes
February 24, 2021
Report published by civil society organization ChemSec finds eliminating chemicals of concern from plastic waste crucial for upscaling plastic recycling, realizing circular economy; companies struggling to comply with chemical requirements; report recommends phasing out chemicals of concern from new products, may open up substantial market opportunities
Reading time: 1 minute
February 23, 2021
Maine Department of Environmental Protection publishes list of ten food contact chemicals (FCCs) of high concern, follows state’s Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging legislation; includes bisphenols, parabens, benzophenone, 4-octyl phenol, octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, toluene, styrene, benzene methylenedianiline, nonylphenol; open for comments until March 10, 2021
Reading time: 2 minutes
February 23, 2021
European Commission (EC) announces creation of expert group to support implementation of EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; to be composed of up to 32 members from civil society, scientific, industry, and intergovernmental organizations; applications accepted until March 18, 2021
Topics: chemicals strategy, European Commission
Reading time: 1 minute
