President of the European Commission announces new team of vice-presidents and commissioners, reduced focus on chemical regulation and the environment
News Article
September 15, 2014
News Article
June 14, 2022
European Commission: Current food contact materials regulation “sub-optimal”
European Commission (EC) publishes working document on review of whether the EU Food Contact Material Regulation (EC) No. 1935/2004 is fit for purpose; finds regulation is “partly effective” but “overall, the efficiency… appears to be sub-optimal”; presents concerns including lack of specifics for materials other than plastics, non-intentionally added substances, supply chain transparency, oversight, and structure of risk assessments
News Article
September 24, 2020
ECHA finds 1 in 4 imported products non-compliant
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) completes pilot enforcement project focused on restricted substances cadmium, lead, nickel; finds 23% of inspected products not compliant with EU chemicals regulations
News Article
November 24, 2020
US EPA extends PV29 TSCA evaluation comment period
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for draft risk evaluation of C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) under its TSCA regulation; new draft adds previously confidential business data, solubility testing data, workplace air monitoring; concludes 11 of 14 conditions of use for PV29 pose unreasonable risk; toxicity debate ongoing also in Europe; EPA extends comment period for the revised draft until December 19, 2020
News Article
October 1, 2020
Stakeholders pressure EU Commission on chemicals strategy
Corporate European Observatory concerned lobbying from chemical manufacturers will convince authorities to weaken ambition for reforms; EU member states send letter to Commission calling for long-term strategy for toxic-free circular economy; public petition launched calling for Commission to live up to its own commitments
News Article
January 6, 2017
Interlaboratory comparison of migration testing: Temperature control
EU Reference Laboratory for FCMs publishes a report on interlaboratory comparison for controlling the temperature during migration tests by article filling; results satisfactory only for 30% of the participating laboratories; follow-up study is planned
News Article
August 22, 2023
European Commission allows DEHCH for food contact
DEHCH deemed safe as additives in PVC for food contact; comes into effect 20 days after publication in EU’s Official Journal
News Article
July 2, 2018
ClientEarth: EU Commission delays decisions on chemicals
New study by ClientEarth finds that decisions by European Commission on use of substances of very high concern are ‘delayed unreasonably’ in most cases
News Article
January 25, 2022
Public consultation on bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics
European Commission (EC) opens a public comment period on biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics; consultation will advise EC during development of new policies for these plastics; three areas of particular focus: sustainability of feedstocks, verification of biodegradation claims, and “widespread confusion” among consumers on terms and proper disposal routes; comment period open until March 15, 2022
News Article
March 25, 2019
Starbucks to trial compostable cups
Coffee company and coffeehouse chain Starbucks announces trialing of recyclable, compostable cups in several U.S. cities; NGO highlights need for change in consumer behavior, advocates for more reusable cups
