Canadian province of Ontario expands extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for paper packaging from covering half of recycling cost to full cost by 2023; adds single-use food packaging to program; legislatures in US states of Maine and Oregon pass EPR legislation that includes food packaging; governors of both states need to sign for bills to become law
US FDA wants to strengthen post-market review of food contact substances
Following multiple reports of trouble within the food branch of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022, agency is beginning to implement structural changes to review food contact substances already on the market
Discount retailers pushed to act on harmful chemicals
Center for Environmental Health and Campaign for Healthier Solutions urge U.S. discount retailers to take action on fluorinated chemicals in microwave popcorn bags
ECHA adopts substance evaluation plan
Member states adopt community rolling action plan (CoRAP) and plan to evaluate 29 substances in 2019, some of which used in food contact materials
Recordings of TTC workshop available online
Food Packaging Forum publishes recordings and presentations of workshop on Threshold of Toxicological Concern, freely accessible
News conference on the costs of EDCs
Simulcast event will discuss new series of studies suggesting that EDC exposure costs EU billions annually, to be held on March 5, 2015
New German packaging law
German parliament passes new packaging law aiming to increase recycling and prevention of packaging waste; law enters into force January 1, 2019
Sweden: New website on safety of nanomaterials
Swedish platform on nanomaterial safety publishes new website with information on safety aspects of nanomaterials
PFAS are present in Vietnam FCMs, especially mochi paper trays
First study to assess per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food contact materials (FCMs) in Vietnam detects them in 16 out of 18 samples; mostly in low levels but up to 624 ng/g in mochi paper tray; authors call for more focus on Global South since PFAS research focus is mostly on the North
Scientific consensus on chemicals and obesity
International scientists release Uppsala consensus statement agreeing on potential impact of environmental contaminants on metabolism and obesity; call for urgent action to reduce chemical exposure