Topics
EU
February 20, 2023
California State Policy Evidence Consortium and DG Environment publish reports on the abundance, health effects and (potential) regulations on microplastics and nanoplastics, respectively; first finds most regulations come from California or EU and concern banning microbeads or mandating more research; second argues against a lower size cutoff of nanoplastics since the smaller the plastic particles, the more likely they can cross biological membranes
Reading time: 4 minutes
December 22, 2022
European Commission publishes proposal to amend Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 on classification, labelling and packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP); aims to define identification criteria of chemical health hazards, communication of those hazards, and enforcement
Reading time: 2 minutes
December 9, 2022
European Commission (EC) publishes proposal to revise the EU legislation on packaging and packaging waste; includes mandatory targets for waste reduction, re-use, and minimum recycled content in plastic packaging; based on three problems identified by an impact assessment: growing packaging waste generation, barriers to packaging recycling and re-use, and low recycling quality in plastic packaging
Reading time: 5 minutes
December 9, 2022
European Consumer Organization (BEUC) finds that chemicals of concern migrate from silicone baking molds sold in Europe, including three siloxanes classified as SVHCs; 23% of 44 products tested release chemical constituents in high (>30 mg/kg) or increasing amounts over time; BEUC calls for stricter EU rules for silicone food contact materials
Reading time: 3 minutes
November 23, 2022
Ukraine’s Ministry of Health notifies World Trade Organization of a draft restriction on vinyl chloride in contact with food; restriction aligns with a 1978 European Council declaration on vinyl chloride in food contact materials (FCMs); ministry announces other alignments including on migration of lead and cadmium from ceramic FCMs
Reading time: 2 minutes
October 19, 2022
On the morning of the Food Packaging Forum’s annual workshop, speakers discuss changes in food contact material (FCM) regulation in the EU, US, and Asia; panels discuss key research and policy developments over the last decade
Topics: 2022 workshop, china, endocrine disruptor, EU, European Parliament, India, Indonesia, Japan, LCA, Philippines, recycling, Thailand, USA, workshop
Reading time: 10 minutes
September 29, 2022
European Commission publishes draft amendment to the EU’s Classification, Labeling, and Packaging Regulation (CLP); adds classification of endocrine disrupting chemicals and adopts hazard classes from REACH; comment period until October 18, 2022; European Chemicals Agency proposes classifying 9 chemicals as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) including bisphenol S and melamine; comment period until October 17, 2022
Reading time: 2 minutes
September 9, 2022
EU Advocate General advises the General Court to reject the primary argument of PlasticsEurope in its case against the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA) identification of bisphenol A (BPA) as a substance of very high concern (SVHC); Advocate General calls the argument “in its entirety as unfounded”; this appeal is based on the classification as an environmental endocrine disruptor
Reading time: 1 minute
August 24, 2022
News provider and consultancy ChemLinked publishes article comparing Chinese and European food contact material (FCM) policies
Reading time: 1 minute
August 23, 2022
Industry associations report recycling rates of packaging materials in Europe; average collection rate of glass bottles and jars hit 80% in 2020; paper packaging recycling over 80%; paper recycling rates close to theoretical maximum; plastic recycling has not increased despite increased demand by beverage companies; two-thirds of plastic-packaging pledges in Europe failed, supporting the change away from single-use likely necessary
Reading time: 5 minutes
