Topics
heavy metals
September 3, 2026
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drafts standards for plastic food contact materials (FCMs) intended for child use and for microwave use; Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comments highlighting need for stronger chemical safety provisions; raises concerns on limited list of restricted chemicals, potential for regrettable substitutions, chemical safety issues of recycled plastics
Reading time: 3 minutes
August 4, 2026
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) drafts revised standard for plastic feeding bottles; includes migration testing, restrictions on bisphenol A; Food Packaging Forum (FPF) submits comments encouraging stronger chemical safety provisions; raises concerns on regrettable substitution, non-intentionally added substances (NIAS), mixture toxicity, and infant-specific vulnerability
Reading time: 2 minutes
March 9, 2026
Malaysia updates limits on heavy metals in ceramic cookware; state of Perak introduces plastic bag ban
Reading time: 1 minute
July 24, 2024
Kenya Bureau of Standards submits updated standard to World Trade Organization; covers aluminum foil for household use and catering; changes mostly affect mechanical property specifications; includes rules for metal content and heavy metal limits
Reading time: 1 minute
June 10, 2024
Ministry of Production proposes technical regulation on plastic bags to reduce use of harmful substances, increase recycled content, and decrease microplastics production; also bans unsupported claims like “eco-friendly”, “green”, etc.; proposal open for comment until August 14, 2024
Reading time: 2 minutes
June 7, 2024
Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI) publishes new standard for plastic bags in contact with food including limits on heavy metals and temperature requirements; published new standard for single-use wooden utensils earlier in 2024; Industry Minister instructs TISI to increase pace to control other articles
Reading time: 1 minute
June 5, 2024
Washington state Department of Ecology publishes list of seven new priority chemical groups for future regulatory scrutiny as part of the Safer Products for Washington program; includes lead, cadmium, and formaldehyde; earlier in 2024, Washington passed the strongest regulation on lead in cookware in the US
Reading time: 2 minutes
January 15, 2024
New EU candidate, Georgia, lowers specific migration limit of lead and cadmium from ceramic food contact articles; brings nation in line with EU Ceramic Articles Directive
Reading time: 1 minute
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
November 17, 2021
Technical regulation sets specific migration limits for lead and cadmium from glass and ceramic food contact materials (FCMs); provides guides on which products are within scope, limits vary with article type and size
Reading time: 1 minute
