Public-private partnership sets targets for signatories by 2025; includes designing all packaging to be re-useable or at least recyclable, reducing virgin plastics by 20%, increasing recycling by 25%, having 30% recycled content
FDA accused of ‘willful ignorance’ regarding BPA
U.S. NGO Environmental Health News criticizes FDA’s approaches to designing and performing CLARITY-BPA study, interpreting its results; presents results of own investigation suggesting intentional manipulation, potential industry influence
EFSA: Communicating uncertainty
European Food Safety Authority publishes guidance on communicating uncertainty to complement previously published guidance on uncertainty analysis in scientific assessments
EFSA: Activity report 2016
EFSA publishes annual report summarizing its work carried out in 2016; highlights include Strategy 2020, nearly 500 scientific outputs, reevaluation of BPA, more data access and stakeholder engagement
EU to monitor mineral oil hydrocarbons in food
EU Commission adopts recommendation to monitor mineral oil hydrocarbons in food and in materials and articles intended for food contact; 2017-2018 monitoring data to be submitted to EFSA by February 2019
EU environment committee votes on plastics strategy
EU Parliament’s Environment Committee supports EU Commission’s overall plans for plastics in circular economy, suggests further measures on microplastics, single-use plastics, hazardous chemicals
Scientists support EFSA’s revised risk assessment on BPA, commentary
Over 40 scientists jointly comment on chemical risk assessment practices; endorse European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) risk assessment on BPA; urge for more science-based regulation approaches
BPA masculinizes female brains
New results from FDA’s BPA low dose study show significant effects on female rat brains at lowest dose
EU Parliament comments on EFSA’s independence policy
European Parliament criticizes EFSA’s draft independence policy; calls on EFSA to introduce comprehensive cooling-off period for experts, consider research funding among assessed interests, apply policy consistently to all staff
Food additives and child health
Policy statement and technical report by American Academy of Pediatrics describe child health effects of direct and indirect food additives, provide recommendations for reducing exposures, call for revision of food additives regulation in the U.S.