NGOs develop policy recommendation for companies to avoid or reduce risks from nanomaterials in food products and packaging
EC publishes Circular Economy Action Plan
European Commission’s new plan includes specific aims to simplify packaging materials, reduce unnecessary packaging use, set mandatory requirements for recycled content, remove hazardous chemicals from product life cycles; timelines for individual initiatives published
BPA and 3 more substances added to SVHC list
ECHA includes four new substances of very high concern in Candidate List; bisphenol A listed as reproductive toxicant
EFSA: Updated risk assessment of five phthalates
European Food Safety Authority publishes updated risk assessment for the phthalates DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DIDP; retains developed group and individual tolerable daily intake limits; finds no current public health concern but cautions that values set are temporary due to uncertainties
Recent innovations in packaging
Companies present paper-based packaging for alcoholic beverages, multipack cans; new designs and materials for better recyclability; more products reported to use 100% recycled plastics
Draft CLARITY-BPA report published
U.S. National Toxicology Program releases draft report on CLARITY-BPA study; deadline for comments is April 12, 2018; meeting for peer-review scheduled for April 26, 2018
Debut of ‘Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act’ in U.S.
U.S. senators and representatives present wide-ranging bill to address plastic pollution; aims to extend producer responsibility, implement nationwide container refund system, phase out single-use plastic items, increase minimum recycled content
How to regulate polymers?
Chemical Watch commentary addresses the nature of polymerization reactions, provides technical background information explaining the challenges in the registration of polymers under REACH
Nature: Linking obesity and Bisphenol A
Researcher reviews in the scientific journal Nature Reviews Endocrinology evidence of Bisphenol A causing obesity in children and adolescents .
Maternal PFCs levels linked to growth and development in British girls
British study links maternal polyfluoroalkyl compounds to postnatal growth and development of girls.