European Commission hosts multi-stakeholder conference on chemicals policy; discusses setting criteria for green and sustainable chemistry, chemicals in the circular economy, and fair competition from foreign manufacturers
UK moves ahead with plastic packaging tax
Government announces tax on plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content beginning April 2022; £200 per metric ton set to be charged, exemptions will exist for small quantities
Epigenetics in risk assessment
Current state of epigenetics science and potential integration of epigenetic effects into risk assessment discussed at EFSA colloquium
Opinion: Concerns raised over public consultation on EDCs
Unsuitable questions limit public involvement in the EU Commission’s consultation
Canada lists food contact substances as toxic
Canadian government adds 3 substances relevant for food contact materials to country’s list of toxic substances
Microplastics measured in newborn, infant, and adult feces
Small study assesses polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) microplastics in human feces; finds PET and PC in all infant stool and in most meconium and adult stool samples; suggests higher exposure of infants than adults
BPA disrupts human egg maturation
New study investigates effect of BPA exposure on human egg development and infers link to infertility
Study associates phthalate exposure with postpartum depression
Research article in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism measures phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in urine of 139 pregnant women, assesses occurrence of depression four months postpartum; finds detection of phthalates linked to low progesterone levels, association with depression
Rigid polyolefin recycling capacity in Europe
Plastic Recyclers Europe reports 1.7 million tons of installed recycling capacity for the waste stream, packaging still the largest use
Bulk food in supermarkets: growth and challenges
Article by Civil Eats discusses the rise of bulk food dispensers in grocery stores to reduce food packaging and challenges they face; presents initiatives from larger chains including re-use of customers’ containers; addresses food safety concerns, need for educating consumers