Report by EU Parliament highlights need for revision and improvement of European FCM regulation; EU level action to address important gaps in risk assessment, traceability, compliance and control; calls for an EU-wide ban of BPA in all FCMs
EU: FCM legislation vs. REACH
CHEM Trust hosts expert workshop on gaps and overlaps between EU chemicals regulation REACH and EU food contact materials legislation; meeting notes available online
Germany to promote bioplastic packaging
German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture calls for projects to develop new bio-based plastic food packaging; project proposals can be submitted until January 31 and March 31, 2019
EU FCM policy briefing
Non-profit organization HEAL publishes policy briefing on regulation of FCMs in the EU; prioritizes regulation of paper and board, varnishes and coatings, and printing inks; calls for ban of SVHCs and EDCs in food contact materials
Joint venture for FDCA and PEF production
Companies BASF and Avantium join forces for large scale production of FDCA and promotion of PEF as an alternative to conventional plastics
FCM regulatory and waste management updates from South and Southeast Asia
Malaysia proposes revision of allowable uses for eleven chemicals, including seven used in food contact material (FCM) applications; Vietnam’s revised Law on Environmental Protection comes into effect, launches nationwide extended producer responsibility scheme for domestic producers and importers; Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives publishes report that chemical recycling plant in Indonesia, launched by Unilever in 2017, was “secretly shuttered” after two years; Sri Lanka proposes plastic pellets be classified as dangerous goods during maritime shipping
Nordic Council checks compliance of products sold online
Inspectors from Nordic countries examine 361 products ordered online for compliance with various EU chemicals legislation; find 53% non-compliant, higher rate of non-compliance for products sold by companies outside of EU; lead, short chain chlorinated paraffins, diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) detected most often
US EPA extends PV29 TSCA evaluation comment period
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for draft risk evaluation of C.I. Pigment Violet 29 (PV29) under its TSCA regulation; new draft adds previously confidential business data, solubility testing data, workplace air monitoring; concludes 11 of 14 conditions of use for PV29 pose unreasonable risk; toxicity debate ongoing also in Europe; EPA extends comment period for the revised draft until December 19, 2020
EU committee rejects increasing lead limits in recycled PVC
Environment Committee of EU Parliament rejects EU Commission’s proposal to allow up to 2% lead by weight in recycled polyvinylchloride (PVC); see increased levels as unsafe and unnecessary given available PVC alternatives, argue recycling should not justify continued use of hazardous substances
Upcoming bans on single-use plastics
UK plans banning plastic straws and cotton buds; New York governor proposes statewide ban on plastic bags, with exemptions