European Chemicals Agency pilot enforcement project finds 12% of inspected articles contain substances of very high concern (SVHCs) with 88% of suppliers failing to sufficiently communicate to customers; calls for improved communication in the supply chain
UK rejects ban on SVHCs in food packaging
UK government rejects earlier recommendation from committee report to ban Substances of Very High Concern from food contact materials
ECHA recommends 18 SVHCs for authorization
European Chemicals Agency recommends 18 substances of very high concern for addition to the authorization list, includes six food contact chemicals
Information requirements for SCIP database
European Chemicals Agency sets information requirements for upcoming database on substances of very high concern (SVHCs) in products; requires name, concentration, location of SVHC in article; notification to be required from January 5, 2021
Four new SVHCs proposed
EU member states propose four new substances for inclusion on REACH Candidate list of substances of very high concern for Authorization; all substances relevant for food contact
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
Communicating and reducing SVHC use
EU project survey finds half of companies do not have ready information to respond to consumer requests about substances of very high concern (SVHCs); Swedish Chemicals Agency develops app to improve SVHC communication; Danish report finds current legislation has reduced SVHC use in Nordic countries
Over 200 substances now on SVHC list
European Chemicals Agency adds 4 new entries on the list of substances of very high concern (SVHC); substances potentially relevant for food contact materials
EU court confirms BPA as SVHC
General Court of the European Union upholds bisphenol A as a substance of very high concern, ruling follows complaint by Plastics Europe regarding consideration of information on intermediate uses
EU identifies four phthalates as endocrine disrupting
European Chemicals Agency identifies phthalates DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP as having endocrine disrupting properties; these substances already placed on Authorization List for being toxic to reproduction