EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) concludes that information supporting the current authorization of wood flour and fibres for use in plastic food contact materials is ‘insufficient’; criteria for future evaluations of plant materials for use as plastics additives address migration and toxicological evaluation of migrants
Controversy over TTIP
Greenpeace leaks TTIP negotiation documents implying risks for environment and public health; EU Commissioner for trade asserts that trade deal will not lower EU standards
Plastics in a circular economy: research status, environmental leakage, food safety hazards
Recent studies perform semi-systematic review of published circular economy literature focusing on plastics over past 21 years, develop framework for plastics in circular economy; find Dutch food packaging plastic waste polluting oceans, question effectiveness of recycling; summarize chemical and microbial hazards related to circular food production systems
Draft 15th amendment to EU plastic FCM regulation
EU Commission drafting new amendment for EU Regulation 10/2011 on plastic FCMs; authorizes new substances, decreases non-detect migration limits, adds migration limits for elements and metals
Recycling of flexible polyethylene
Plastics Recyclers Europe publishes paper identifying key barriers to increasing recycling of flexible polyethylene films, calls for harmonized collection and sorting as well as design for recycling guidelines
List of biocide suppliers published
ECHA makes available the list of active biocidal substances on the EU market including the substance or product suppliers
Sweden disappointed by reaction to EDC court ruling
Swedish Minister for Climate and Environment and several NGOs criticize European Commission’s inaction following EU court ruling regarding the setting of EDC criteria
Protein-based food packaging reviewed
Scientists review the use of proteins in production of food packaging, discuss main protein sources, manufacturing methods, improvement strategies and future prospects
LCA study investigates impacts of beverage packaging types
Scientists from University of Southampton publish life cycle assessment (LCA) estimating primarily environmental impacts of five types of packaging across three beverage categories; find lowest impacts caused by recycled aluminum cans for pressurized drinks, Tetra Pak for fruit juices, cartons for milk
RSC, animal rights NGOs debate EDC management
Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) position statement promotes risk-based approach to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) post-Brexit; three NGOs argue in favor of increased use of Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) to identify EDCs