Members of the high-level roundtable on implementation of the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS) publishes joint report; provides ten recommendations to improve enforcement and compliance of chemicals legislation; calls for ‘whistle blower’ mechanism and support for consumer and health organizations
Second REACH review published
European Commission releases second review of REACH regulation, highlights how REACH enhanced chemical safety, suggests actions for improvement
Environment MEPs object EDC criteria
European Parliament’s Environment Committee supports objection to EU Commission’s proposal for EDC criteria, highlights unlawful exemptions for compounds with intended endocrine activity, calls on full Parliament to veto criteria proposal
Printing ink compounds detected in foods
UK survey finds eight different printing ink chemicals in food samples as well as their packaging
REFUCOAT develops recyclable, active packaging
EU Horizon 2020 Project REFUCOAT develops three packaging materials to reduce plastic waste and food loss, uses bacteriophage-based coating to reduce Salmonella proliferation in chicken breast, more efficient synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and polyglycolide (PGA)
In vitro toxicity testing of food contact materials: State-of-the-art and future challenges
Risk of PFOA evaluated
PFOA, its salts and related substances warrant global action under the Stockholm Convention; Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee considers draft risk profile of PFOA during its 12th meeting
Study: migration into dry foods higher than US FDA assumption
Comprehensive literature review in the journal Food Additives and Contaminants investigates substance migration into dry foods and food simulants; review analyses: foods off store shelves, foods and food simulants in experimental settings, food particle characteristics, and packaging material; finds migration commonly exceeds 50 µg/kg assumed migration rate of dry foods according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Ways forward to improve polymer assessment and management
Critical review evaluates regulatory approaches of polymer assessment and management; identifies critical knowledge gaps by comparison with recent scientific findings; proposes policy options for safe and sustainable polymer use; suggest more transparency, standardized testing procedures, and improved understanding of environmental fate and hazards
Bioassays can help to develop safer food packaging
In vitro study assesses hormonal activity of leachates from bio-based polymers used in food packaging; demonstrates integration of toxicity testing in packaging development can help reduce toxicity and design safer bio-based packaging