Event program and registration for Food Packaging Forum’s 6th annual workshop of October 4, 2018 now online; live webcast available; register before September 27, 2018
Rising perchlorate in food likely due to packaging
Total diet study by U.S. FDA finds perchlorate levels in food increased in 2008-2012 compared to 2003-2006; NGOs suggest this may be due to perchlorate’s use in food packaging first allowed in 2005; concerns voiced about potential impacts on child development
Basel Convention to control plastic waste trade
Parties to the Convention adopt changes to place plastic waste under the Prior Informed Consent procedure; requires plastic waste exporters to obtain permission from importing countries
Draft CLARITY-BPA report published
U.S. National Toxicology Program releases draft report on CLARITY-BPA study; deadline for comments is April 12, 2018; meeting for peer-review scheduled for April 26, 2018
Hearing on predictive toxicology roadmap
FDA holds public hearing on its predictive toxicology roadmap, September 12, 2018; registration open until August 29, 2018; comments accepted after hearing until October 12, 2018
Opinion: Plastic recycling a ‘false promise’
Engineer estimates U.S. plastic recycling rate below 5% in 2018, calls for ‘real solutions’ to plastic pollution such as reduced production of single-use plastics, implementation of deposit schemes
Detecting BPA in food
European Commission Joint Research Centre develops analytical methods for determining BPA and 12 similar substances in food
JRC: 2018 report on alternatives to animal testing
Joint Research Centre publishes annual 2018 report on ‘recent achievements and future plans’ in the field of development and regulatory acceptance of alternative approaches to animal testing
Further reactions to EU EDC criteria adoption
Denmark and Sweden maintain that EDC criteria require too high burden of proof; France promises tougher national controls on EDCs; Endocrine Society calls on EU Parliament to ‘gather input’ from endocrine scientists
P&P conference 2018
Smithers Pira’s annual conference on “Plastics & paper in contact with foodstuffs” covers regulatory updates, summarizes industry initiatives, discusses future developments