European Commission proposes strongly science-based criteria to identify endocrine disruptors, endorses WHO definition, and publishes impact assessment on EDC criteria
REACH: Completeness of registration dossiers
ECHA commits to reevaluating the completeness of REACH substance registrations following a Board of Appeal ruling finding that ECHA has previously failed to adequately do so
EU environment committee adopts waste legislation
EU Parliament’s Environment Committee amends legislative package on waste management; sets 80% target for recycling and reusing packaging waste for 2030
AOP-based computational models for regulatory toxicology
Review article by EU Commission’s Joint Research Centre and collaborators discusses development and use of computational prediction models for regulatory toxicology and how it can be supported by the Adverse Outcome Pathways framework
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
Opinion: Communication of EFSA’s BPA report is misleading
UK charity CHEM Trust sends letter to EU’s Health and Food Safety Commissioner regarding misleading communication of EFSA’s report on BPA
Migration of mineral oils and DIPN from paperboard into dry foods
Swiss and Italian researchers publish new study comparing the effect of different testing and storage conditions on migration behavior of MOSH, MOAH and DIPN from paperboard into non-fatty dry foodstuffs. Observed levels of migration were in the part per million (ppm) range (mg/kg food). Migration levels were highest for egg pasta packaged in paperboard and enclosed in an outer polypropylene bag.
‘The trouble with plastics’
Special issue of peer-reviewed journal Birth Defects Research presents a collection of articles on plastics’ effects on human health, with a particular focus on early development
Chemical migration from silicone baking materials
European Consumer Organization (BEUC) finds that chemicals of concern migrate from silicone baking molds sold in Europe, including three siloxanes classified as SVHCs; 23% of 44 products tested release chemical constituents in high (>30 mg/kg) or increasing amounts over time; BEUC calls for stricter EU rules for silicone food contact materials
European Commission limits BPA in toys
DG Enterprise limits BPA migration from toys to 0.1 mg/l; limit based on voluntary industry standard