News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
March 11, 2020
European Commission’s new plan includes specific aims to simplify packaging materials, reduce unnecessary packaging use, set mandatory requirements for recycled content, remove hazardous chemicals from product life cycles; timelines for individual initiatives published
Topics: circular economy, European Commission
Reading time: 4 minutes
March 11, 2020
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes assessment and outcome from public consultation, finds insufficient data to complete robust exposure assessment and risk characterization; no health-based guidance value defined
Topics: chlorinated paraffins, EFSA
Reading time: 1 minute
March 9, 2020
European recycling association EuRIC AISBL shows concern for lack of interface between EU chemicals, product, and waste legislation; provides recommendations to support circular economy including harmonizing EU waste legislation, derogations for legacy substances
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 6, 2020
Study by German Environment Agency (UBA) scientists reports concentration of 23 plasticizers in major German river basins, finds significant increases of di(2-propylheptyl) phthalate (DPHP), voices concern that total environmental burden from plasticizers has not changed since mid-2000s
Topics: phthalates
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 6, 2020
Latest Eurobarometer survey finds citizens worried about impact of chemicals in products on environment (95%) and human health (85%); respondents believe society needs to change the way it consumes, produces, and trades; 80% think industry should do more to protect the environment
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
March 5, 2020
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) launches public consultation to collect additional information on substances of very high concern (SVHCs); 6 are food contact chemicals, including dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP)
Reading time: 1 minute
March 5, 2020
Scientists from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Indiana University investigate 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), find all exhibit at least one or more characteristic of known human carcinogens
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 4, 2020
Multistakeholder study presents framework to evaluate new approach methodologies for assessing safety of chemicals; uses three steps and set of core principles, criteria to check if fit-for-purpose; provides case studies illustrating application
Topics: risk assessment
Reading time: 1 minute
March 4, 2020
Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates $150 billion investment needed to address ocean plastic pollution, says solutions are in redesigning products upstream; Pew Charitable Trust to release report detailing cost estimates, launches initiative to find effective strategies
Topics: plastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 4, 2020
Public comment period opens on ongoing evaluation of EU legislation related to irradiation of food and food ingredients; comments accepted until May 25, 2020
Topics: European Commission, regulation
Reading time: 0 minutes
