News
The Food Packaging Forum reports on recent developments across the food packaging and health field.
December 14, 2022
Scientists perform suspect and non-target analysis of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in 100 food contact materials (FCMs) in Southern China; identify 28 OPEs of which 18 were identified for the first time; find organophosphate antioxidants as one OPE source
Reading time: 4 minutes
December 12, 2022
European Commission (EC) publishes policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics; aims to guide policy, industry, and public; “bioplastics” should not distract from circular economy principles prioritizing reduction, reuse, recycling; 17th annual European Bioplastics conference gives insights into recent bioplastics’ developments; bioplastics production capacities projected to almost triple by 2027
Reading time: 5 minutes
December 9, 2022
European Commission (EC) publishes proposal to revise the EU legislation on packaging and packaging waste; includes mandatory targets for waste reduction, re-use, and minimum recycled content in plastic packaging; based on three problems identified by an impact assessment: growing packaging waste generation, barriers to packaging recycling and re-use, and low recycling quality in plastic packaging
Reading time: 5 minutes
December 9, 2022
European Consumer Organization (BEUC) finds that chemicals of concern migrate from silicone baking molds sold in Europe, including three siloxanes classified as SVHCs; 23% of 44 products tested release chemical constituents in high (>30 mg/kg) or increasing amounts over time; BEUC calls for stricter EU rules for silicone food contact materials
Reading time: 3 minutes
December 6, 2022
Researchers analyze drivers influencing the regulation of substances of very high concern (SVHCs); find fact that substances neither produced nor imported in the European Economic Area to be most important factor for listing a substance as SVHC
Reading time: 3 minutes
December 2, 2022
Viewpoint article points out high persistence of chemicals as the main driver for global chemical pollution footprints; urge development of chemicals regulation addressing high persistence alone
Topics: persistency, regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 2, 2022
Published journal article and conference report from European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) conference in June 2022 summarize main outcomes and recommendations; includes investing to keep up with new science, capitalizing on data, future preparedness, and applying one health approach in future decision making
Topics: EFSA, one health
Reading time: 1 minute
December 1, 2022
European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) protocol outlines strategy for collecting data and appraising evidence for hazard assessment of phthalates and other plasticizers in food contact materials (FCMs); latest step in agency’s reevaluation of risks to public health
Topics: EFSA, phthalates
Reading time: 1 minute
November 30, 2022
Court of Justice of the European Union reverses earlier court ruling identifying titanium dioxide (TiO2) as a carcinogen via inhalation; finds Risk Assessment Committee did not consider all necessary factors and criteria for having intrinsic hazard not met; legal institutions now responsible for addressing changes needed to adapt to court’s decision
Topics: titanium dioxide
Reading time: 2 minutes
November 29, 2022
21 European countries joined forces to identify illegal import, trade, and advertising of bamboo-containing plastics; 748 cases of plastic food contact materials identified on the EU market and at border controls
Reading time: 1 minute
