New science advisory system of the Commission to be operational by autumn 2015, seven top level scientists will be recruited to advise European policy makers
European Commission responds to NGO letter on EDCs
Commission agrees with EFSA’s definition of EDCs and rejects criticism regarding EFSA’s independence
Plastics Global Commitment progress report 2021
Finds global virgin plastic production for signatory brands and retailers has likely peaked; progress so far driven by recycling, but warns recycling is not the solution and elimination of single-use packaging urgently needed; separate reports find US polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle recycling rates decreasing and Australia not meeting plastic recycling targets
US EPA extends comment period on PFAS reporting requirements
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); would require manufacturers that produced PFAS at anytime since 2011 to make a one-time report with information about uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards; comments accepted until September 27, 2021
EU’s Chemicals Strategy plans actions on FCMs
European Commission (EC) publishes Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; plans to ban PFAS for all non-essential uses, move towards grouping approach for regulation of all chemicals; specific actions for food contact materials (FCM) include extending generic approach to risk management, identifying endocrine disruptors, considering cumulative effects of chemical mixtures
EFSA publishes mixtures methodology
European Food Safety Authority launches guidance on assessment of ‘combined effects’ of chemical mixtures in food and feed
EDC criteria for all types of products
NGOs call for horizontal criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in all types of applications, not just pesticides and biocides; urge EU Commission to redesign its currently proposed EDC criteria
Pregnant women to avoid chemicals from food packaging
UK Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists publishes guidance document for pregnant women
Study finds EU guidance could help identify other EDCs
Scientists from Danish Technical University (DTU) assess butylparaben according to EU guidance for assessment of pesticides; find that approach positively identifies butylparaben as endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC) even with different data availability; suggest guidance could be applied to wide range of chemicals to identify other EDCs
Webinar on COVID-19 and zero waste
Zero Waste Europe webinar on April 7, 2020 to examine how to prioritize public health while still progressing towards zero waste lifestyle during pandemic, feature speakers from association for sustainable resource management (ACR+) and the Food Packaging Forum