European Chemicals Agency identifies phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP as having endocrine disrupting properties; these substances already placed on Authorization List for being toxic to reproduction
ECHA committees agree on restriction of 4 phthalates
ECHA’s Committees for Risk Assessment and Socio-Economic Analysis support proposal to ban endocrine disrupting phthalates DEHP, DBP, DIBP, and BBP in various articles; all 4 substances relevant for food contact materials
EFSA phthalates working group: 9th meeting
EFSA’s CEP Panel working group on phthalates reviews comments received during public consultation on draft opinion of DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DIDP; revisions and responses to comments to be discussed in future meeting
HBM4EU: phthalates and bisphenols
European human biomonitoring initiative holds workshop on policy uptake of data generated for phthalates and bisphenols
Banned phthalates replaced by worrisome alternatives
New study finds reduction of exposure to banned phthalate, increase in exposure to other phthalates
Phthalates reduce neuron numbers in developing brain
Rats perinatally exposed to phthalates show lower number of neurons and synapses in the brain, decreased cognitive flexibility
ECHA: 2nd consultation on phthalates’ authorization
ECHA consults on uses of DEHP, DBP, BBP, DIBP which may no longer be exempted from authorization, including FCM uses; deadline for comments March 12, 2019
US FDA stands by decision on phthalates in food contact
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains May 2022 decision to deny citizen petition asking the agency to ban eight ortho-phthalates in food contact
Exposure to phthalates from fast food
People eating fast food have higher urinary phthalate levels, U.S. study finds; association most pronounced among non-hispanic black consumers, suggesting environmental injustice
Maine bill on phthalates and PFAS
U.S. State of Maine passes legislation aiming to eliminate phthalates and PFAS from food packaging from 2020, establish a system to assess further substances of concern in FCMs