EU Parliament’s Environment Committee exchanges views with the EU Commission on the regulation of food contact materials, requests quicker results and urges for more transparency
News Article
November 7, 2017
News Article
April 18, 2024
Flame retardants above regulatory limits in some ‘eco-friendly’ baking papers
Study of bio-based food contact articles made of sugarcane bagasse or cellulose wood pulp labelled “natural”, “compostable”, or “biodegradable” finds PFAS and organophosphate esters (OPEs), a type of flame retardant and plasticizer; concentrations highest in baking papers; though purchased in Italy, some OPEs above EU regulatory concentration limit of 0.01 mg/kg
News Article
June 14, 2017
EU observatory for nanomaterials now online
ECHA launches European Union Observatory for Nanomaterials website; provides information on nanomaterials on the EU market for consumers, workers, regulators, and scientists
News Article
June 14, 2017
Food packaging made from food
Article in New York Times presents alternative food packaging materials developed from food residues such as excess milk powder, tomato peels, or shrimp shells
News Article
April 23, 2024
FPF comments on proposed amendments to EU regulations on food contact plastics
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) critiques the European Commission’s proposed amendments to regulations on food contact plastics; says suggested threshold for non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) lacks scientific evidence; supports enhanced specifications for migration testing
News Article
May 20, 2016
Crosslinking in polysaccharide and protein polymers
Scientists review crosslinking agents used for polysaccharide and protein films and coatings intended for food contact; crosslinking improves polymer properties such as water resistance; potential migration and toxicity of crosslinkers need consideration
News Article
July 23, 2020
Inorganic elements in PHA bioplastics
Scientists measure content and migration of inorganic elements from polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA); report higher levels in PHA produced from municipal waste and wastewater sludge fractions compared to PHA produced from fruit wastes; in all cases migration below set migration limits
News Article
February 2, 2018
Responses to draft EDC identification guidance
Responders to consultation on draft guidance for identification of EDCs criticize too high level of evidence required and too narrow scope
Events Webinar
Putting the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability into action: Responding to hazardous chemicals in plastic FCMs
Third webinar within Food Packaging Forum’s Spring 2021 webinar series on challenges and opportunities for food contact materials (FCMs) within the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability (CSS); featured two expert talks on addressing hazardous substances in plastic FCMs, considering substitution and simplification
News Article
July 23, 2020
Chemical analytics of novel food packaging
Scientists review chemical analytical approaches for food contaminants originating from packaging, including active packaging and novel biopolymers; call for thorough characterization of substances migrating from active packaging, including impurities, auxiliary compounds, potential biotransformation products
