New Spanish waste law includes extensive waste reduction measures and targets across the entire supply chain; bans bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates in food packaging; mandates food providers offer tap water for free and accept reusable containers if customers bring them; 20% of floor space in large grocery stores must be for food without packaging; establishes extended producer responsibility scheme and bottle-to-bottle recycling program
A new roadmap to transform the European chemical industry
European Chemical Industry Council (Cefic) and European Commission publish roadmap to incorporate EU goals for the green and digital transformation into the chemicals sector by 2050; defines nearly 200 actions for the chemical industry with technological investments, and regulatory steps necessary; implementation expected to begin spring 2023
Coca-Cola to use more rPET
Coca-Cola European Partners launches new sustainable packaging strategy in the UK; aims to increase content of recycled PET in bottles, promote recycling
European Parliament prepares FCM report
Members of the European Parliament’s ENVI Committee vote in favor of draft report recommending improvements to FCM regulations; CHEM Trust blog reviews report; final vote scheduled for October 2016
FSANZ: No risk from food packaging chemicals
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) completes assessment of chemical migration from packaging into food, finds exposures ‘low and unlikely to pose a public health and safety concern,’ plans to develop information guide for businesses to support risk management
NextGen Cup Challenge winners announced
Winners of challenge to re-imagine and improve single-use cups announced, focused on innovative cup liners, new materials, reusable cup service models; six teams continue into business accelerator for scale-up
Public consultation on EFSA’s nano-guidance
EFSA publishes draft guidance on risk assessment of nanomaterials in food and feed; public consultation open until March 4, 2018
Measuring plastic particles released from food packaging and in human lungs
Scientists investigate plastic particles released from store-bought food packaging as well as human and mice health impacts of exposure; report single-use plastic products release >1012 nano-sized particles during use; find microplastics to suppress lysosomal activity in mouse macrophages; first detection of microplastics within human lung tissue samples; in vitro neurotoxicity study finds microplastics negatively impact human forebrain organoid development
Updated dossier on NIAS
FPF publishes 2nd edition of NIAS dossier and updated summary article, including new examples of non-intentionally added substances and risk assessment concepts; German translation of dossier available
EFSA working group updates in March 2020
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on bisphenol A, FCMs, and recycling plastics published; 13th CEP Panel plenary meeting on April 28-30, 2020 open to observers, registration open until April 24