Topics
EU
October 18, 2024
European Council adopts updated CLP regulation; introduces new hazard classes for endocrine disruptors, PBT, and vPvB substance; aims to enhance chemical safety by sharing hazard classifications across regulations; includes new provisions for digital labeling and refill station requirements
Reading time: 1 minute
October 7, 2024
Targeted and non-targeted analysis on reusable plastic drinking water finds diisobutyl phthalate (DIBP) to migrate from 22 plastic bottle types after extensive dishwashing; detects hundreds of unidentifiable chemicals in food simulants; calls for more safety data on plastic chemicals and to ban DIBP in plastic products
Topics: EU, phthalates
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 13, 2024
European Commission acknowledges unfeasible deadlines; responds to European Ombudsman inquiry about efficiency and transparency concerns; Commission president intends to simplify REACH
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 2, 2024
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) updates its guidelines for assessing PET recycling processes for materials intended for food contact; applicants must include information on collection, pre-processing, decontamination, post-processing, and intended use; potential dietary exposure of contaminants must not exceed 0.0025 μg/kg body weight per day
Reading time: 1 minute
July 26, 2024
Zero Waste Europe publishes brief highlighting problems with polyvinyl chloride in food contact applications; advocates for restrictions due to health concerns from additives and microplastics; another report supports ECHA’s findings on significant risks associated with PVC; European civil society organizations petition phase out strategies
Reading time: 2 minutes
July 16, 2024
On average, 80.2% of glass packaging collected for recycling in 2022 in the EU; Steel recycling rate reaches 80.5%; 70% recycling rate for paper and board in the UK in 2023; 40% recycling rate for plastics in the EU in 2021
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 28, 2024
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) report outlines four key challenge areas concerning chemicals regulation in the EU; discusses protection against most harmful chemicals, particularly those inducing neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption; underscores the need for data transparency and a “lack of comprehensive information on many substances”, particularly polymers
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 18, 2024
EU expert committee passes ban of bisphenol A in food contact materials; ban will likely be enacted by the end of 2024 with a transition period before coming into force
Reading time: 2 minutes
May 17, 2024
European Commission’s working group on food contact materials (FCMs) shares updates and timelines on revision of the FCM regulation and BPA restriction; ongoing FCM sustainability study will be completed by February 2025; BPA restriction to be sent to Parliament and Council in mid-July
Reading time: 1 minute
April 25, 2024
European Commission adopts guiding criteria for determining the 'essential use' of harmful chemicals, emphasizing that their use is justified only when necessary for health, safety, or crucial societal functions with no alternatives; essential use is not legally binding until incorporated into regulation
Reading time: 2 minutes
