Minutes of the 5th meeting of EFSA’s CEP Panel working group on food contact materials now available online; continues risk-assessing several new FCMs, presents extensive summary of views on the current framework regulation
Exposure risks of nanomaterials not sufficiently understood
Environmental Health Perspectives reviews work of Nano GO consortium, need to develop reliable assays and methods for engineered nanomaterials
ChemSec report on circular economy
Published report focuses on chemicals as overlooked part of a circular economy; urges companies to not rely on legal compliance alone, calls for avoiding hazardous substances during design stage and speeding up regulation
Whistleblowers claim EPA is hiding chemical risks
The Intercept reports four career staff members of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claim that the agency is hiding risks discovered in toxicological assessments of chemicals; plans additional follow-up articles to further investigate the claims
Hormonal activity of food contact materials: New research findings from Austria
Polystyrene sample found to be estrogenic and antiandrogenic in two different in vitro assays, other food contact materials’ overall migrate tested positive for estrogenicity in some cases, no final verdict on hormonal active chemicals’ identities
Stakeholder workshop on FCM evaluation
DG SANTE holds first stakeholder meeting on evaluation of EU FCM legislation, September 24, 2018, in Brussels; meeting agenda, background information online; webstream available
Green chemistry requires knowledge in toxicology
Green Chemistry & Commerce Council addresses chemists’ lack of toxicology training and resulting impediments for green chemistry at U.S. Congress
TSCA evaluation of 1,4-dioxane criticized
Comments on draft risk evaluation question cancer hazard assessment; pending study raises concern for stakeholders regarding transparency; comments being accepted until August 30, 2019
FCCmigex database updated
The Food Packaging Forum updates Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex); encompasses 149 additional studies with more than 4600 new entries
Plasticizer contents evaluated in coffee powder and coffee
Comparison of plasticizer levels in coffee powder and brewed coffee from capsules, pods and mocha pots