Trends in Food Science & Technology publishes outcome from multistakeholder workshop by International Life Science Institute “to identify knowledge gaps in analytical methods, assessment of exposure, hazard characterization, and risk assessment of mineral oil hydrocarbons (MOH);” highlights need for standardization of MOH measurements in food, finds few studies look at packaging material or foods packaged in materials other than paperboard
European Council approves framework for drinking water recast
Position supports recasting EU Drinking Water Directive to consider safety of materials that come into contact with drinking water; will specify minimum hygiene requirements, create positive lists of material starting substances, compositions, and chemical constituents
Harmonizing ECHA and EFSA data
EU Parliament’s Environment Committee launches working group on harmonization of safety data held by EU chemicals, food safety and medicines agencies
Food Contact Materials Regulation Workshop
Documents suggest plastic recycling never intended to work
EcoWatch article presents evidence that manufacturers knew since 1970s that plastic recycling is not viable economically; recent survey finds only 1/3 of UK food product packaging locally recyclable; manufacturer singles out PET as way forward towards circular economy
Microplastic impacts on child health: knowns and unknowns
Scientific commentary discusses pregnancy- and child-relevant exposure to and impacts of nano- and microplastics: finds 37 studies mostly on plastic particles in food and placental transfer, identifies major knowledge gaps, and advocates policymakers and industry to implement precautionary approaches; Nature Reviews Materials article proposes microplastic risk assessment framework
Workshop on safe & sustainable design criteria for chemicals
Circular economy teaching and progress
Ellen MacArthur Foundation holds Higher Education Workshop and 2018 Summit in London, explores teaching and learning opportunities, discusses way forward
JRC publishes NANoREG project report
EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre releases report on the NANoREG framework focusing on a common approach to the safety assessment of nanomaterials