International group of scientists publish peer-reviewed article presenting arguments for managing all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as a single chemical class; recommend allowing only essential uses, applying class-based approach for clean up efforts, setting exposure limits for all PFASs instead of for individual chemicals
New EU guidance on plastic migration testing forthcoming
Working group shares draft document at EU Commission’s FCM stakeholder meeting
U.S. retailer urged to ban toxic chemicals
Non-profit organization Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families calls on U.S. retailer Albertsons to adopt comprehensive chemicals policy after finding lead, formaldehyde, parabens, and BPA in consumer products sold in its stores
EU health policy platform
EU Commissioner speaks on chronic diseases and ways to prevent them; announces launch of EU health policy platform intended to enable a broad stakeholder dialogue
Experts emphasize developmental exposures
Experts gather at a conference to discuss early-life environmental hazards and long-term health outcomes
JRC and EFSA reinforce collaboration
EU Joint Research Centre and EFSA hold workshop to discuss ongoing and future collaborations; common topics of interest include chemical mixtures, endocrine disruptors, and risk/hazard assessment of food-relevant chemicals
Gaps in risk assessment of nanopigments
EU Observatory for Nanomaterias reviews knowledge on hazard and risk assessment of nano-sized pigments, finds information gaps, calls for further research, increased reporting transparency
Experts call for ban of new biodegradability promoting additives
Food packaging experts call for banning a new group of biodegradability promoting additives used in food packaging, cite concerns over uncontrollable degradation, migration of and human exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals; finds them distracting from real solutions such as new business models incorporating reuse
Exposure to phthalates from fast food
People eating fast food have higher urinary phthalate levels, U.S. study finds; association most pronounced among non-hispanic black consumers, suggesting environmental injustice
New EU rules on FCMs must be science based, simpler, and enforced
Food Packaging Forum comments on European Commission’s public consultation on its revision of EU rules on food contact materials (FCMs); stresses the importance of revising the definition of safety and aligning FCM regulations with EU strategies on chemical sustainability and circular economy