A brief overview of US state-level regulatory actions concerning food contact chemicals, material prohibitions, and bottle deposits in 2023; state of Washington bans bisphenol-based epoxy liners in drink cans beginning in 2025; other updates from Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont
Performance of FCNs assessed
U.S. FDA reviewed the first decade of the Food Contact Notification program
EFSA Scientific Opinion: BPA exposure of no risk to consumers
Tolerable daily intake of BPA reduced, current exposure levels too low to cause harm
California to address chemicals in FCMs
State of California’s Safer Consumer Products program considers assessing chemicals in food packaging within its 2018-2020 work plan
Canada identifies four parabens for toxic substances list
Government publishes draft screening assessment of 7 parabens, identifies 4 to present danger to human health or environment at current levels of exposure; proposed risk management published; findings open for public comment until May 13, 2020
New thermostable food contact plastics
A ‘glass-like’ thermostable copolyester introduced to European market; promoted as alternative to PET, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and glass, particularly for hot-fill applications
ACC launches pro-BPA campaign
American Chemistry Council campaigns to highlight conclusions of governmental bodies on BPA safety to consumers and manufacturers
Screening data on 1800 chemicals
US EPA publishes screening data on 1800 chemicals, opens ToxCast challenges to use data for public health risk assessment
Studies discuss EDC sources, exposure, and human health effects
Scientific studies investigate human endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) exposures and effects; Canadian study finds bisphenols migrate from baby bottles and sippy cups; reviews report of widespread presence of bisphenols, parabens, and benzophenones in human breast milk and addresses current misunderstandings about the impacts of EDCs on child health
FDA/SOT colloquium on food contact substances
Colloquium co-organized by FDA and Society of Toxicology provides an overview of FDA’s practices in safety assessment of food packaging and other food contact substances, discusses alternative coatings and nanocomposites