EU Commission’s DG SANTE publishes Inception Impact Assessment as roadmap for revision of EU regulations on food contact materials; outlines eight main “issues” identified during ongoing evaluation, possible policy options to be considered by planned Impact Assessment; commenting period open until January 29, 2021
Mandatory updating of REACH dossiers
European Commission’s implementing regulation makes updating of REACH dossiers mandatory, sets defined deadlines for specific cases according to updates’ complexity
Nordic Council checks compliance of products sold online
Inspectors from Nordic countries examine 361 products ordered online for compliance with various EU chemicals legislation; find 53% non-compliant, higher rate of non-compliance for products sold by companies outside of EU; lead, short chain chlorinated paraffins, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) detected most often
Analysis of chemically non-compliant products
European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) analyzes European RAPEX database on non-food products, finds 92% of tested and non-compliant REACH chemicals found in products were imported from outside of Europe; calls for improved enforcement and tools
Fitness check of non-REACH chemical policies
EU Commission publishes results of fitness check for EU’s chemicals policies (excluding REACH), confirms ‘high level of protection’ provided by current legislation, acknowledges implementation challenges
Disagreement over ECHA’s SVHC database
Opposing positions taken by industry, NGOs, scientific expert with regard to ECHA’s planned database on SVHCs in products
Chemical migration from plastic FCMs in China
Chinese scientists analyze migration from 120 domestic plastic FCM products; only 13% of detected migrants listed on EU positive list for plastic FCMs; widespread detection of antioxidant precursor 2,4-DTBP
ILSI report on food packaging adhesives
International Life Sciences Institute’s Packaging Materials task force publishes report on adhesives for food packaging applications
Many REACH registrations non-compliant
Study by German authorities finds 32% of high production volume chemicals non-compliant with REACH safety data requirements; 31% compliant, rest uncertain; European Environmental Bureau suggests actions for improvement