News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
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
July 28, 2020
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published; scientific opinions on benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BDTA), multiple recycling processes published
Reading time: 3 minutes
