Danish Ministry of Environment and Food announces plan to ban the use of organic fluorinated substances in cardboard and paper used in food contact materials; ban to take effect by July 2020
August 27, 2019
Public events on safer products bill and toxicology roadmap
U.S. State of Washington to host webinar on August 29, 2019 explaining new Safer Products for Washington bill and planned implementation; U.S. FDA to hold public workshop on September 18, 2019 providing update on development of Predictive Toxicology Roadmap
August 26, 2019
Chipotle restaurants defend packaging
U.S. restaurant chain Chipotle issues statement following study finding per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in its biodegradable packaging; stricter total fluorine limits set for compostability certificate
August 22, 2019
BfR opinion on EFSA’s PFOS, PFOA evaluation
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment publishes opinion supporting tolerable weekly intake levels for PFOS and PFOA developed by European Food Safety Authority; reconfirms earlier 2008 statement that consumer health risk in Germany exists
August 12, 2019
NGO calls to ban PFAS in food packaging
Environmental Working Group calls on U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in food packaging; cites report finding PFAS used in restaurant chain compostable paper bowls; PFAS manufacturer Chemours discontinues three products for PFAS food packaging coatings
August 5, 2019
FDA called on to clarify its PFAS statements
Environmental Defense Fund questions U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s statements that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) not a concern in foods, requests details about analytical and risk assessment methodology to help fill “critical gaps” in FDA statements
July 18, 2019
U.K. committee report on toxic chemicals
Parliamentary committee report calls for greater transparency of chemicals used in food packaging, recommends U.K.-wide ban on SVHCs in food contact materials, proposes government strategy to reduce PFAS exposure
July 15, 2019
U.S. objects to plastic waste trade agreements
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sends letter objecting to adoption of plastic waste trade regulations between OECD member states, against recent Basel Convention amendments
July 15, 2019
Discussion on U.S. military PFAS regulations
U.S. House of Representatives passes National Defense Authorization Act calling for removal of PFAS from firefighting foams and food packaging in military, revised version to be discussed with Senate and then sent for presidential approval pending list of ‘concerns’
June 26, 2019
Lower safety threshold for PFOA
Study by U.S. National Toxicology Program on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and pancreatic cancer suggests 0.1 parts per trillion safety threshold for drinking water, questions current U.S. EPA guideline of 70 parts per trillion
