European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) adds 4 substances of very high concern (SVHCs) to candidate list for authorization, includes additive potentially used in food contact polymer production and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and its salts
EU Parliament’s draft resolution on plastics
EU Parliament’s Environment Committee publishes draft resolution on EU strategy for plastics in circular economy; deadline for tabling amendments May 3, 2018
Non-intentionally added substances (NIAS)
NIAS are chemicals present in food contact materials and articles which have not been added for a technical reason. They include side products, breakdown products, and contaminants. Although more and more NIAS have been identified over time, by far not all are known. Risk assessment and management of NIAS therefore present particular challenges. The updated dossiers in English and German replace the previous edition with the DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.33514.
Danish testing of printed paper packaging
Danish Consumer Council tests for UV filters and primary aromatic amines (PAAs) in colorful paper food contact articles, finds PAAs above recommended levels
Information on chemicals in products for clean circular economy
NGOs respond to EU Commission consultation on chemicals, products and waste in the circular economy; call for EU information system disclosing substances of concern in products
Industry alliance on plastic waste
‘Alliance to End Plastic Waste’ to raise $1.5 billion in member commitments; help address plastic waste management in urban areas and rivers
Non-BPA cans
Food company ConAgra removes BPA from its cans; non-profit organizations raise concern over safety of BPA-replacements and ask for removal of BPA from all food packaging
OECD to develop sustainable plastics criteria
Report to be published by end of 2020 will offer tools to help compare sustainability trade-offs, discourage use of hazardous chemicals; OECD has multiple other plastics-related projects currently underway
US: Antioxidant approved for FCMs
US FDA approves antioxidant for FCMs: nonylphenol-free phosphite for use in LDPE and HDPE
JRC updates footprint methods
European Commission Joint Research Center updates its product and organizational environmental footprint methods; now includes characterization factors for more chemicals describing freshwater ecotoxicity, non-cancer and cancer toxicity