Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comments to the US Food and Drug Administration on the food additive petition to remove the authorization of fluorinated polyethylene in food contact materials
US EPA restricts PBT substance PIP (3:1)
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issues list prohibiting food contact chemical phenol isopropylated phosphate (3:1) (PIP (3:1)) under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA); EPA will ban processing, distribution and release in water of PIP (3:1); currently under assessment in EU for endocrine disrupting as well as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic properties
Bisphenol A in bottles and children’s cups from less regulated markets
International Pollution Elimination Network (IPEN) finds 60% of sampled “BPA-free” plastic bottles and children’s cups from 8 countries contain bisphenol A (BPA); test 98 containers (23 “BPA-free”) from local markets in Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Russia, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania; Sri Lanka’s Environment Ministry says it will investigate
US Senate passes bills to increase recycling accessibility, data
United States Senate unanimously passes the Recycling Infrastructure and Accessibility Act, Recycling and Composting Accountability Act; both receive wide support from industry and environmental groups; must pass House of Representatives to become national policy
Roadmap for evaluation of EU FCM regulation
EU Commission publishes roadmap for evaluation and fitness check of food contact materials regulation 1935/2004; stakeholder feedback accepted until December 26, 2017
CHEM Trust: EU FCM laws need an update
Article discusses regulatory complexity caused by lack of harmonized EU FCM laws, failure to integrate REACH, increase in national regulations to address gaps; suggests considering positive list approach taken under drinking water directive
EFSA evaluates intelligent packaging: time-temperature indicator
EFSA considers time-temperature indicator system safe for use in food contact material, genotoxic potential of ingredient not ruled out
ACC: All plastic packaging recycled or recovered by 2040
Plastics industry members of American Chemistry Council commit to ensuring that ‘100% of plastics packaging is re-used, recycled or recovered by 2040’
Bill to require US FDA to reexamine chemicals used in food
Representative Jan Schakowsky introduces Food Chemical Reassessment Act of 2021 to the United States House of Representatives; the bill would require the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regularly review the chemicals used in foods, particularly those approved through the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) rule; would establish an Office of Food Safety Reassessment and reestablish a food advisory committee
England bans single-use plastic food contact items
Ban comes into effect October 1, 2023; includes plates, bowls, trays, containers, and cutlery; exemption if items already serve as packaging, such as single-use trays for takeaway meals