News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
August 4, 2020
University of Torino to launch five-week virtual course on November 9, 2020; aims to inform broad audience about the potential health risks of packaging and food contact materials, how research contributes towards safer packaging, and the role of governments, industry, and consumers
Topics: migration
Reading time: 1 minute
August 3, 2020
Three manufacturers of the short chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) commit to voluntarily phase out use by 2023; concerns about potential persistence in humans following dietary exposure
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
August 3, 2020
The Lexicon develops online game to bring awareness about personal food choices on health, environment, and culture; supporting resource articles provide insights from experts into developing sustainable diets, dietary guidelines, and making choices about the food we eat
Topics: environment, food
Reading time: 1 minute
July 31, 2020
Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) workshop on August 31, 2020 to receive public input on identifying plant-fiber based food packaging as priority product; report with product-chemical profile published and open for public comment until September 13, 2020
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
July 31, 2020
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes final significant new use rule (SNUR) for set of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); final version omits language applying rule to interior-facing surface coatings, results in call for formal inspection of rule making process by government officials; Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) criticizes agency for non-transparent approval of new PFASs via process exemptions
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 30, 2020
Governments publish positive lists of additives allowed in food contact materials (FCM); adoption would bring national regulations in line with Mercosur Resolution GMC 39/19
Reading time: 1 minute
July 30, 2020
Global Initiative for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) report investigates chemical recycling projects in the US; advocates against plastic-to-fuel processes, rejects use of term ‘chemical recycling’ to describe them; American Chemistry Council (ACC) statement defends technology’s potential
Topics: chemical recycling, recycling
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 29, 2020
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) publishes draft lists of existing substances for use in synthetic food contact resins; set to be consolidated into final positive list announced in April 2020; revisions open for public comment
Reading time: 1 minute
July 29, 2020
Notification to World Trade Organization (WTO) sets specific migration limits for cadmium and lead from ceramic articles; open for comments until August 6, 2020, set to come into force 6 months later
Reading time: 1 minute
July 28, 2020
European Council agrees €0.80 tax per kilogram on non-recycled plastic packaging waste starting January 1, 2021; exact law still needs to be developed and then approved by European Parliament and Council of the EU
Reading time: 2 minutes
