European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) Biocidal Products Committee (BPC) announces opinion not approving silver compounds for application in food contact materials (FCMs); includes silver zinc zeolite, silver zeolite, silver copper zeolite, silver sodium hydrogen zirconium phosphate; finds risk unacceptable for human health; next meeting scheduled in June 2021
FPF submits feedback on packaging and packaging waste regulation
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) responds to European Commission’s call for feedback on the proposed packaging and packaging waste regulation (PPWR); FPF highlights aspects of food packaging and chemical safety that should be included in future versions; primarily (i) considering presence of hazardous chemicals in packaging materials meant to be recycled or reused, (ii) clearly defining compostable packaging and guaranteeing safety, and (iii) defining inertness
Comparing EU and Chinese FCM policy
News provider and consultancy ChemLinked publishes article comparing Chinese and European food contact material (FCM) policies
ECHA committees adopt opinions on DMF, siloxanes
European Chemicals Agency committees for socio-economic analysis (SEAC) and risk assessment (RAC) adopt final opinions on restriction proposals for DMF, D4, D5, D6; opinions to be made publicly available soon
EDF's advice for new FDA commissioner on chemicals
Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) suggests how new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner can better address toxic chemicals in food; calls for systematic and regular reviews to update older assessments, follow Congressional mandate to consider cumulative effects, prohibit perchlorate, lead, and ortho-phthalates from food contact materials
Denmark to remove fluorinated compounds from FCMs
Danish minister wants to ban fluoride compounds from food packaging
First comprehensive overview of market chemicals
Published study analyzes 22 chemical inventories across 19 countries and regions, finds over 350,000 chemicals and mixtures registered globally, three times more than earlier reported; highlights significant data gaps due to ambiguously described chemicals and confidential business information; calls for collaboration to responsibly manage chemicals
Conference on EU food contact regulations
Chemical Watch hosts conference covering European and global regulations on food contact materials, risk assessment, and circular economy; two-year delay in the evaluation of FCM legislation announced
Risks of combined exposure to EDCs
Scientists use real-life exposure data to identify EDC mixtures associated with health outcomes, demonstrate that combined exposure to multiple EDCs results in effects not observed with single chemicals at similar levels
Polyolefin manufacturer releases updated Declaration of Compliance
SABIC releases new Declarations of Compliance for PE and PP products, meeting 2016 deadline early