Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comment to US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the draft national strategy to prevent plastic pollution; FPF highlights aspects of food packaging and chemical safety for EPA to consider; primarily (i) how the EPA may be able to support reuse, (ii) encouraging ratification of the Basel Convention; (iii) clarifying “compostable” and “inert”; strategy comment period extended to July 31, 2023
FPF Workshop 2017: Save the date!
Food Packaging Forum holds 5th annual workshop on October 5, 2017 in Zurich, Switzerland; first speakers and topics announced
Are ‘safe levels’ safe?
Article questions effectiveness of current chemical risk assessment in protecting public health; explains non-monotonic dose response and why it should be considered in assessing chemicals’ toxicity
Global Food Contact 2020 virtual conference
The 2020 edition of the Global Food Contact conference organized by Smithers will take place entirely online, be spread across four half-day sessions on July 14, 15, 21, and 23
Generally Recognized As Secret
Natural Resources Defense Council releases new report on GRAS self-determinations and criticizes lack of public information, calls FDA and Congress to action
Six urgent questions to address PFAS
Environmental Science and Technology feature article discusses six urgent questions to be answered to address worldwide per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ (PFAS) contamination and health impacts; describes importance, barriers, and ways forward for each question; emphasizes the need for cooperation, increased transparency, consideration of environmental equity; US FDA’s budget request calls for increased investment in addressing PFAS
Symposium on challenges in risk assessment
BfR, NIFDS, ANSES and DTU host joint international symposium on risk assessment and consumer health protection, November 30-December 1, 2017 in Berlin; registration open until November 24, 2017
7 new substances for REACH candidate list suggested
Member states suggest 7 substances for REACH candidate list, 2 food contact substances included
FDA bans 2 more perfluorinated substances
Two perfluoroalkyl containing oil and water repellents can no longer be used in paper and board FCMs in the U.S.; petition to FDA claimed the substances’ use has been abandoned
Opinion: FDA ‘rushing to judgement’ on BPA
Article in Environmental Health News discusses main goal of CLARITY-BPA program and U.S. FDA’s premature conclusions on BPA hazards