German Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) publishes meeting minutes of its commission for contaminants in the food chain; discusses PFASs and mineral oil hydrocarbons
Nestlé & TÜV Rheinland: “EU regulatory landscape for FCM, the latest developments and compliance process. Nestlé’s regulatory approach on Biodegradable and Compostable Materials”.
Study detects DNA-reactive, mutagenic substances in recycled PE, PP, and PS
119 plastic samples including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) tested for mutagenicity; no DNA-reactive, mutagenic substances in PET but in 51 of the other samples, making them unsafe, especially for food contact applications; recycling process identified as source; dataset of over 600 organic chemicals in recycled high-density PE pellets published
Salinity of fatty food could influence migration
JRC scientists investigate influence of salinity level of food simulants on migration; argue that not only fatty content but also salinity of food needs to be considered when choosing migration testing conditions for polar migrants
12 additional substances for authorization
EU Commission announces the planned addition of 12 substances to the REACH Authorization List, set to be added in October 2019
Risk of PFOA evaluated
PFOA, its salts and related substances warrant global action under the Stockholm Convention; Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee considers draft risk profile of PFOA during its 12th meeting
FPF Workshop 2017: Science is not value-free
Karim Bschir from ETH Zurich argues that ‘good science is not value-free’ because scientists routinely make value-based judgments; he proposes that scientists should make their values explicit
California consults on carcinogenicity of substances
Seven substances set for consideration under state’s Proposition 65 legislation; includes bisphenol A and decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE); comments accepted until October 19, 2020
BPA an environmental endocrine disruptor
ECHA’s Member States Committee supports Germany’s proposal to classify BPA as substance of very high concern (SVHC) due to endocrine disrupting properties with probable effects in the environment
EDC guidance document published
EFSA and ECHA release pre-publication version of guidance for implementation of criteria to identify endocrine disruptors; guidance applies to biocides from June 7, 2018 and to pesticides from November 10, 2018