Kenya, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and Rwanda implementing Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) in national policy; Sierra Leone and Malawi partner with the UN Environment Program (UNEP) to study chemical and waste management within the countries to design long term policies and projects
FDA adds 13 new substances to FCS inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 13 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS)
Opinion: Loopholes in proposed EU laws for single-use plastics
Rethink Plastic alliance of NGOs warns that definition of single-use items is ‘too narrow,’ allowing to avoid bans or reduction measures by marketing them as reusable; NGOs deliver petition to EU Parliament ahead of vote on single-use plastics regulation on October 22, 2018
EU agreement on single-use plastics
EU Council and Parliament provisionally agree on new Directive restricting several single-use plastic products, including cutlery, plates, straws, certain food and beverage containers
China launches consultation on priority chemicals
Ministry identifies 19 hazardous substances including 11 food contact chemicals; information being accepted until May 31, 2020
Recycled plastics in food contact applications
Smithers Pira publishes white paper discussing use of recycled plastics in food contact applications
EPA: New rules for chemical evaluation
U.S. EPA proposes three rules to inventory, prioritize and risk evaluate chemicals under Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act
ECHA classifies BPA as environmental endocrine disruptor
ECHA adds 7 new SVHCs to Candidate List; entry for BPA updated to include endocrine disrupting properties with effects on environment
New EFSA guidance documents for scientific assessments
EFSA’s Scientific Committee publishes new guidance on biological relevance of data and weight of evidence approach in scientific assessments
EU Parliament debates single-use plastics
EU Parliament debates directive on reducing marine litter from plastics, including restrictions for specific single-use plastic products; final vote scheduled for October 24, 2018