Zero Waste Europe publishes policy brief reviewing hazardous chemicals in food packaging, proposing EU policy changes to address them; partners launch newsletter providing updates on key legislation and related food contact material (FCM) resources
First annual EU forum on endocrine disruptors
Event brings together EU government agencies, research institutions, stakeholders to discuss endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs); Joint Research Centre (JRC) announces upcoming launch of stakeholder survey to inform ongoing fitness check of EU legislation
FPF publishes food contact chemicals database
Researchers led by the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) publish new database identifying over 12,200 distinct chemicals that could be used in manufacture of food contact materials and articles; 29% lacking openly accessible toxicity data; 608 identified as most hazardous, prioritized for substitution; published study and database freely accessible
Global health costs of chemical exposures
New study estimates health costs linked to environmental chemicals may exceed 10% of global GDP; NGO calls for greater prioritization of health and prevention in policy making
EU starts evaluation of FCM regulation: 1st stakeholder event
Evaluation of the European FCM regulation started with a stakeholder workshop in Brussels; purpose of the 12-month evaluation process is to identify how FCM regulation performs in practice; participants see urgent need for improvements; all stakeholder input is welcome
COVID-19 challenging EPR and single-use legislation
Pandemic causing delays in advancing extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation across US states; increased demand for single-use packaging and plastic bags in Thailand hinders earlier efforts
Precautionary principle compliments scientific approaches to managing chemical risk
Response to Wall Street Journal article on “the ‘junk science’ threat to free trade“, Health & Environment deconstructs MEP Girling’s recent opinion piece
WHO report on circular economy and health
World Health Organization publishes report on opportunities and risks to human health posed by circular economy; chemicals in food packaging identified as one ‘source of potential health implications’
First reactions to draft EU measure on single-use plastics
Industry and NGOs express mixed opinions on EU Commission’s draft proposal to reduce single-use plastics
Green 10 manifesto
Green 10 coalition of environmental organizations identifies four priority areas ‘to promote a European Union that puts people and our planet first’