The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); would require manufacturers that produced PFAS at anytime since 2011 to make a one-time report with information about uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards; comments accepted until September 27, 2021
EU’s Chemicals Strategy plans actions on FCMs
European Commission (EC) publishes Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; plans to ban PFAS for all non-essential uses, move towards grouping approach for regulation of all chemicals; specific actions for food contact materials (FCM) include extending generic approach to risk management, identifying endocrine disruptors, considering cumulative effects of chemical mixtures
EFSA publishes mixtures methodology
European Food Safety Authority launches guidance on assessment of ‘combined effects’ of chemical mixtures in food and feed
Studies investigate extractable and leachable FCCs, present collision cross section database
Scientists develop collisions cross section (CCS) database for leachable and extractable food contact chemicals (FCCs) to help in chemical identification during targeted and untargeted analysis; database covers 1038 CCS values; study tentatively identifies >100 migrants from 24 plastic food packaging articles including 11 that are of potential concern or are priority hazardous substances
European Bioplastics conference discusses bioplastics’ role within Green Deal
16th annual European Bioplastics conference focuses on role of bioplastics in EU policies, new opportunities of compostable plastics and their performance in the open environment, measuring and communicating sustainability of bio-based plastics, bioplastics market development, and applications
Companies target 100% bio-based PET
New process converts non-food biomass into important feedstock for PET production; partner companies aim to achieve fully bio-based PET that is cost-competitive
FCM compliance conference
Regulatory developments for food contact materials discussed at Intertek and European Plastics News conference on 15-16 October in Nice, France
Common biocides cause reproductive problems in mice
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) used in food processing plants affect fertility and fecundity
FPF comments on EU chemicals strategy roadmap
Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits feedback on European Commission’s roadmap to develop chemicals strategy for sustainability; calls for sufficient support to establish appropriate test methods, prioritize substitution of the known hazardous chemicals currently authorized for use in food contact materials
Brand audits identify top polluters
Report by Greenpeace and Break Free From Plastic names 10 global companies whose products appear to be the biggest contributors to plastic pollution worldwide based on findings from beach cleanups and brand audits