News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
December 17, 2019
French National Assembly votes to ban all single-use plastics by 2040; seen as ‘far too late’ by many environmental advocates, criticized as being not ambitious enough
Topics: plastics, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
December 16, 2019
Circular Economy for Flexible Packaging (CEFLEX) initiative calls for comments on polyolefin-based packaging design guidelines; online consultation open until January 17, 2020
Topics: polyolefins, recycling
Reading time: 1 minute
December 16, 2019
European Food Safety Authority requests technical and toxicological information on two amines approved as additives in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) to review and potentially update initial assessments; declaration of intent to submit information required by January 20, 2020
Topics: EFSA, risk assessment
Reading time: 1 minute
December 16, 2019
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes provisions to ban use of PFAS in packaging used in ready-to-eat meals by October 1, 2021
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 13, 2019
EU Reference Laboratory for FCMs reports ‘satisfactory’ results of proficiency test focused on determination of cyclic oligomers from PET and PBT by national laboratories and control authorities
Topics: chemical analytics, migration
Reading time: 1 minute
December 13, 2019
Scientists find increased release of microplastic particles after repeated open/close cycles in screw-cap plastic bottles, no release from bottle walls; call for more research on degradation of food contact plastics
Topics: exposure, microplastics
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 12, 2019
European Commission publicly announces new deal to serve as roadmap for making EU’s economy sustainable; includes creation of chemicals strategy for sustainability, zero-pollution action plan, circular economy action plan, farm to fork strategy; timeline for actions published
Reading time: 4 minutes
December 12, 2019
New European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing summarizes known and potential risks posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); warns that assessing such a large number of substances is time consuming and may lead to widespread and irreversible pollution
Topics: PFAS
Reading time: 1 minute
December 11, 2019
European Food Safety Authority publishes updated risk assessment for the phthalates DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DIDP; retains developed group and individual tolerable daily intake limits; finds no current public health concern but cautions that values set are temporary due to uncertainties
Topics: EFSA, phthalates
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 11, 2019
European Chemicals Agency committees for socio-economic analysis (SEAC) and risk assessment (RAC) adopt final opinions on restriction proposals for DMF, D4, D5, D6; opinions to be made publicly available soon
Topics: ECHA, regulation
Reading time: 1 minute
