News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
May 8, 2026
Revision of the EU flagship chemical legislation, begun in 2020, no longer a priority; minor revisions may still take place through comitology with focus on lowering complexity; chemical industry groups in favor, civil society opposed
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 4, 2026
In a commentary, The Lancet Countdown on Health and Plastics outlines the multiple harms of plastic, including micro- and nanoplastics; describes necessary interventions and tracking of measures over time; explains why constructive debate is essential for advancing the science
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 30, 2026
Intergovernmental organization assesses challenges in chemical safety for recycled plastic; proposes regulatory measures to mitigate barriers
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 29, 2026
Switzerland proposes amendment to align and partially go beyond EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation requirements concerning PFAS in food contact materials; Swiss proposal adds PFAS limitations to empty packaging on the market; Food Packaging Forum (FPF) suggests extending amendment to include reusable food contact materials considering the scientific evidence
Topics: PFAS, Switzerland
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 27, 2026
Report from Plastic Soup Foundation reviews scientific literature on microplastics; highlights sources in five consumer product categories, including food; shares FCMiNo as searchable resource for evidence on microplastics in food from food contact articles; describes challenges with quality of scientific studies; asserts need for action
Topics: food packaging, microplastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 24, 2026
Ministry submits draft bill allowing compostable or biodegradable single-use plastic packaging, especially for hospitality industry; amends rules outlined by EU’s Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR); argues justification considering availability of bio-waste management infrastructure in Italy
Reading time: 2 minutes
April 23, 2026
New report estimates the global burden of micro- and nanoplastics in food attributable to plastic packaging; estimate 131 mg per person annually; PET bottles, and rigid PET and polyethylene containers the greatest sources
Topics: microplastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 22, 2026
South American trade bloc MERCOSUR’s new food contact silicone regulation gets formally incorporated into Brazilian government policy; introduces positive list for silicones divided by use case
Reading time: 1 minute
April 21, 2026
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Human Foods Program publishes list of research, data, and methods needs; highlights knowledge gaps for food contact chemicals; includes PFAS, microplastics, and nanoparticles; Program receives $109 million increase in funding from US government
Reading time: 3 minutes
April 20, 2026
Scientists estimate that nearly 2 million preterm births and 74’000 newborn deaths globally in 2018 can be attributed to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP); similar results for diisononyl phthalate (DINP); burden is highest in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; authors recommend regulating phthalates as a chemical class
Reading time: 2 minutes
