Topics
heavy metals
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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May 20, 2021
NGOs in the United States including Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, Earth Justice, and the Environmental Defense Fund, launch campaign calling on the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to update its rules about chemicals present in food packaging; new campaign targets heavy metals, PFAS, phthalates, and perchlorate
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