81st plenary meeting of EFSA’s Scientific Committee is open for observers; registration ends October 25, 2016
Phthalates found in 'mac and cheese'
Phthalates found in 29 out of 30 tested U.S. cheese products; concentrations higher in processed compared to unprocessed cheeses; highest phthalate content found in powdered cheese from ‘mac and cheese’ ready meals
Mixed reactions as UN concludes fourth round of INC plastics treaty negotiations
Fourth round of negotiations for a new global instrument on plastic pollution took place in Ottawa, Canada from April 23 – 29, 2024; member states agree on intersessional work to be carried out on financial mechanisms and chemicals of concern ahead of upcoming final session; no agreement on reducing primary plastic production; concerns raised over industry lobbyists outnumbering scientists and many national delegations; final INC-5 meeting set to take place in Busan, Republic of Korea on November 25 – December 1, 2024
Reports on EFSA food safety conference
Special issue of EFSA Journal summarizes outcomes of EFSA’s 2nd scientific conference on food safety that took place on October 14-16, 2015 in Milan, Italy
EFSA: updated opinion on FCM phthalates
Updated draft scientific opinion on risk assessment of DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, and DIDP in food contact materials published; webinar to be held on March 15 and public consultation open until April 14
EFSA FCM working group: 4th meeting
Minutes of the 4th meeting of EFSA’s CEP Panel working group on food contact materials now available online; WG continues risk-assessing several new FCMs, discusses prioritization of substances listed in the EU food contact plastics regulation without specific migration limits
EU authorization of PET recycling for FCMs coming soon
Euractiv article discusses imminent authorization of plastic recycling processes for food contact by EU Commission; concerns about chemical contamination and migration remain; adoption foreseen by end of 2018
Alternative food can linings
Campbell Soup Company introduces can linings made from acrylic or polyester containing no BPA; transition to non-BPA cans to be completed by mid 2017
EC’s proposal for regulating printed FCMs
EU Commission publishes proposal for new regulatory approach for Union measure on printed FCMs, discussed during May 2017 meeting of working group on FCMs with Member States
Comment on EU CLP revision and proposed SVHCs
European Commission publishes draft amendment to the EU’s Classification, Labeling, and Packaging Regulation (CLP); adds classification of endocrine disrupting chemicals and adopts hazard classes from REACH; comment period until October 18, 2022; European Chemicals Agency proposes classifying 9 chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) including bisphenol S and melamine; comment period until October 17, 2022