Ministry of Environment report investigates improving management of hazardous chemicals by group, consideration of mixture toxicity in risk assessment; provides 11 recommendations for regulators; public comments accepted until May 29, 2020
ERM seminar on food contact materials
Consultancy firm ERM holds seminar focusing on current developments in regulatory compliance; discuss non-intentionally added substances, recycling, circular economy
UK government urged to restrict PFAS in packaging
Letter from stakeholders including civil society groups and actor Mark Ruffalo asks UK ministers to restrict per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in paper and board food packaging; petition to UK supermarkets collecting public signatures
Mineral oils and heavy metals in dark chocolate
Danish consumer council finds cadmium, lead, mineral oils, polyaromatic hydrocarbons in dark chocolate; 5 of 12 tested brands with elevated levels
Plastic waste discussed in Davos
Panel at World Economic Forum discusses plastic waste and approaches for future; multiple industry announcements made related to plastics recycling and re-use
Indian draft FCM standard for printing inks
Bureau of Indian Standards consults on revised draft standard for printing inks in food contact materials; recommends exclusion of several pigments, dyes, solvents, plasticizers and other compounds from printing ink formulations
‘Revolution in Food Packaging’ investment conference
Landholt and Cie bank hosts event focused on improvement and innovation of food packaging; gathers investors and experts from across the field to discuss latest developments and ways forward
GAIA report: ‘All talk and no recycling’
Global Initiative for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) report investigates chemical recycling projects in the US; advocates against plastic-to-fuel processes, rejects use of term ‘chemical recycling’ to describe them; American Chemistry Council (ACC) statement defends technology’s potential
EFSA assesses 2 substances for use in FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers α-tocopherol acetate safe for use in polyolefins and concludes that migration of zinc from nanoparticles in non-plasticized polymers complies with the current SML, however concerns exist over dietary exposure from other sources
EFSA evaluates 3 PET recycling processes
EFSA considers PET made from recycling processes ‘Coexpan Montonate,’ ‘4PET,’ and ‘Plastienvase’ safe for use in food contact articles under certain conditions