News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
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
July 27, 2020
House and Senate chambers both pass legislation, set to ban use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging starting in 2023; legislation sent to state governor for signature into law
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
July 27, 2020
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 5 new entries to Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications since June 2020
Topics: FDA
Reading time: 1 minute
July 24, 2020
Analysis calculates current commitments will only reduce plastic pollution flows into oceans by 7%; implementing all feasible solutions now could cut pollution by up to 78%; authors call for urgent and coordinated action by all stakeholders, redirecting all current and future investments away from virgin plastic infrastructure
Reading time: 2 minutes
