News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
November 24, 2020
Overview article examines recent commitments by South Korea, China, and Thailand to launch or expand approval of recycled plastics for use in food contact materials (FCMs); lack of regional definition of ‘food grade plastic’ seen as stumbling block to many local recyclers in meeting growing demand
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 24, 2020
Independent insurance fund carries out survey, finds nearly half of citizens have little to no knowledge about endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); recommends greater public awareness, policies to prevent consumer exposure, use of safer alternatives; Belgium developing national EDC action plan
Topics: endocrine disruptor
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 24, 2020
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for draft risk evaluation of C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) under its TSCA regulation; new draft adds previously confidential business data, solubility testing data, workplace air monitoring; concludes 11 of 14 conditions of use for PV29 pose unreasonable risk; toxicity debate ongoing also in Europe; EPA extends comment period for the revised draft until December 19, 2020
Reading time: 4 minutes
November 23, 2020
New report on upstream innovation introduces mindset, gives guidance to implement elimination, reuse, and material recirculation; demonstrates successful implementation in several case studies; provides interactive resources to stakeholders
Reading time: 1 minute
November 23, 2020
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets target national recycling rate of 50% by 2030; stakeholders identify recycling data gaps as key limitation; call for new national standards and legislation improving reporting, use of recycled content; upcoming changes in government administration create uncertainty
Reading time: 4 minutes
November 20, 2020
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 13 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS); notifications submitted since August 6, 2020
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 20, 2020
Government authority announces planned survey of food contact materials (FCMs) to test for presence of bisphenol A (BPA); results to be used to develop regulatory framework including maximum allowable content, leaching limits, tolerable daily intake
Topics: bisphenol A, India
Reading time: 1 minute
November 20, 2020
Scientists from University of Southampton publish life cycle assessment (LCA) estimating primarily environmental impacts of five types of packaging across three beverage categories; find lowest impacts caused by recycled aluminum cans for pressurized drinks, Tetra Pak for fruit juices, cartons for milk
Topics: life cycle assessment, recycling
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 20, 2020
China finds coronavirus on food packaging from 20 countries, restricts the import of food products, does not share lab results; attracts criticism from trade partners that demand end to restriction, more information on used testing methods; World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting to reconcile conflict not successful
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 19, 2020
China modifies draft standard for inks used on composite food contact materials and articles; specifies safety requirements, basic requirements, limits on impurities and migration; provides requirements for labelling of inks
Reading time: 1 minute
