News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
October 12, 2020
European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and ChemSec submit comments to CARACAL subgroup on polymer registrations under REACH; recommend modifying proposed criteria for polymers requiring registration, suggest recognizing micro- and nanoplastic generation as inherent hazardous property of plastic polymers; call for mandatory pre-registration with submission of defined minimal dataset for all polymers
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 9, 2020
Restriction intention submitted to European Chemicals Agency (ECHA); aims to limit bisphenol A (BPA) and structurally similar bisphenols to maximum concentration of 0.02% by weight as additives, residues, and in mixtures; stakeholders invited to submit relevant information; proposal to be finalized in October 2021
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 9, 2020
European Court of Auditors reviews EU response to growing plastic waste and regulation enacted to address it; warns EU member states not to underestimate challenge of achieving 50% recycling rate by 2025; new reporting rules, restrictions on plastic waste exports set to lower current recycling rates
Reading time: 1 minute
October 8, 2020
Government plans to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030; set to ban six categories of single-use plastic items, introduce minimum recycled content requirements, extend producer responsibility, legally classify plastic items as toxic; proposed plan open for public comment until December 9, 2020
Topics: plastics, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
October 8, 2020
New site to serve as resource for concerned consumers on endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); provides overview of the substances and how they can impact human and environmental health; specific page provides guidance for food contact materials and articles
Topics: endocrine disruptor
Reading time: 1 minute
October 8, 2020
State’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) calls for information related to exposure and hazard identification; includes bisphenol S, PFAS, parabens, titanium dioxide nanoparticles; comments accepted until December 10, 2020
Topics: regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
October 8, 2020
Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) together with Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds to host online symposium on November 19, 2020; focus on reducing health impacts from endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); set to feature talks from health and policy experts; registration free of charge
Topics: endocrine disruptor
Reading time: 1 minute
October 7, 2020
German consumer organization publishes position paper; identifies fragmentations, holes in current EU regulations on food contact materials (FCMs); critical of limited supply chain transparency, enforcement of chemicals in FCMs by authorities; calls for banning harmful substances, introducing strict positive lists; survey of 1,000 consumers finds most are not well informed about food packaging labelling, proper use
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 7, 2020
Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) publishes set of guidelines for labeling and identifying compostable food contact materials (FCMs); aims to reduce contamination of composting waste streams; focuses on improved labelling and communication of compostable products
Topics: biodegradability
Reading time: 1 minute
October 6, 2020
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds seven new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications since July 2020
Topics: FDA
Reading time: 1 minute
