European Commission launches next step within ongoing revision of food contact material (FCM) regulation; asks for stakeholder input on appropriate scope, hazards, tools to implement within future rules; targets citizens and engaged stakeholder organizations; feedback accepted until January 11, 2023
Landmark ruling on REACH registration process
ECHA board of appeal decides that agency has failed to sufficiently check the completeness of a substance dossier before handing out a registration number
NGOs sue FDA over final GRAS rule
Environmental Defense Fund and other NGOs file lawsuit challenging U.S. FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) practice allowing industry to make self-determinations of food additives’ safety
Novel food packaging not covered by rules in Australia and New Zealand
Food Standards Code in Australia and New Zealand judged as inadequate and irrelevant by manufacturers
JRC report on PAH migration
EU Joint Research Centre develops method to determine migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from plastic and rubber articles with focus on dermal contact
The Revision of the Eu’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Rules
India’s draft food packaging rules
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India notifies WTO of draft food packaging regulations containing 17 standards for food contact materials; comments accepted for 60 days
U.S. bans 5 phthalates in children’s products
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission adopts final rule restricting use of DIBP, DnPP, DnHP, DCHP and DINP in toys and child care articles; rule takes effect on April 25, 2018
New European commissioner targets non-toxic material cycles
European Commissioner for the Internal Market (DG Grow) commits to removing hazardous substances from material cycles in first address to Parliamentary committee on environment; aims to harmonize rules for substances of very high concern (SVHCs), update REACH legislation to manage endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)
Japan implements positive list rules for FCMs
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare releases draft regulatory amendments to implement positive list-based system for food contact materials, to come into force by mid-2020