Plans include an impact assessment for food contact materials not explicitly regulated on EU level, new migration testing guidelines, an assessment of surface biocide regulation for food contact material use and preparations of a first positive list for active and intelligent materials and as well as of further authorizations of plastic recycling processes. Ongoing efforts are addressing the revision of the ceramics directive.
China requesting comments for five FCCs
China requests comments for five new food contact chemicals (FCCs); includes two additives, three polymer resins; consultation open until May 13, 2021
EC proposes revisions to packaging and waste legislation
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
China calls for comments on food contact substances
China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment solicits comments on new food contact substances and resins, expanded uses
Commission breaches EU law and treaty
European Parliament passes resolution on endocrine disruptors and condemns Commission’s illegal delay in setting scientific criteria for EDCs
Consumer goods companies abandoning 2025 plastic packaging reduction goals
Unilever reduces environmental pledges and sets new timeline; new approach is meant to be more focused, long term, and systemic; receives criticism from civil society
EU Commission to create top science advice panel
New science advisory system of the Commission to be operational by autumn 2015, seven top level scientists will be recruited to advise European policy makers
European Commission responds to NGO letter on EDCs
Commission agrees with EFSA’s definition of EDCs and rejects criticism regarding EFSA’s independence
Plastics Global Commitment progress report 2021
Finds global virgin plastic production for signatory brands and retailers has likely peaked; progress so far driven by recycling, but warns recycling is not the solution and elimination of single-use packaging urgently needed; separate reports find US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling rates decreasing and Australia not meeting plastic recycling targets
US EPA extends comment period on PFAS reporting requirements
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); would require manufacturers that produced PFAS at anytime since 2011 to make a one-time report with information about uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards; comments accepted until September 27, 2021