Ghana National Plastic Action Partnership publishes roadmap to reduce plastic use and pollution in the country; includes 11 case studies of projects already underway; outlines strategies for both public and private institutions to contribute to the vision
France bans TiO2 in food
France bans titanium dioxide in food by 2020 following report by ANSES reiterating 2017 recommendation to reduce exposures; EFSA does not see need to open reassessment at the moment
EFSA: Update on HDPE recycling for FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel provides additional information as requested by the European Commission on two HDPE recycling processes for use in FCMs
Report on plastic and health
Center for International Environmental Law publishes report about plastic risks across each stage of lifecycle, calls for lifecycle approach during decision making and for a variety of solutions and options
Plastic tea bags release billions of particles
Researchers measure micro- and nanoplastics released from plastic tea bags during brewing; find over 14 billion particles released per bag, record dose-dependent behavioral and developmental effects on daphnia
EPA publishes draft report on non-monotonic dose-response, low dose effects
Non-monotonic dose-responses not common, current toxicity testing sufficient concludes US EPA
Industry and NGOs applaud Parliament on FCM report
Industry associations and non-profit organizations welcome the European Parliament’s call for improved and harmonized regulation for all types of food contact materials
EFSA’s styrene assessment requests systematic review
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel publishes assessment of styrene in plastic food contact materials, follows 2018 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conclusion labelling it as ‘probably carcinogenic’; calls for systematic review of genotoxicity, toxicokinetics, species differences to determine safety
Chemical industry calls for collaboration to meet EU objectives
European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) publishes report investigating potential scope and impacts of new EU chemicals regulations; finds up to 12,000 substances may be affected by revisions, which are responsible for 28% of the industry’s turnover; adhesives and sealants sectors expected to be most affected