Danish consumer council tests drinking bottles made of plastic, metal, and glass; almost no chemicals of concern detected; 1 metal bottle released small amounts of aluminum, 1 plastic bottle showed small overall chemical migration into sour liquids
UK plastics pact
UK WRAP alliance and Ellen MacArthur Foundation launch UK Plastics Pact uniting national stakeholders; platform part of international initiative The Plastics Pact aiming to accelerate transition towards new plastics economy
What U.S. states consider in regulating PFAS
White paper by Environmental Council of States (ECOS) reviews and compares regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by U.S. states; identifies state agencies’ considerations and unanswered questions that will influence future regulation
Unwanted chemicals in canned tuna
Danish consumer council finds BADGE in metal packaging of tuna as well as plasticizers in the metal closure of a tuna glass jar; none of the tested packaging products contained BPA, BPF, or BPS; all tuna fish contained heavy metals, some contained BADGE and one ATBC
FDA guidance on forming GRAS panels
U.S. Food and Drug Administration issues draft guidance for industry with recommendations for choosing experts to make GRAS determinations; comments can be submitted until January 16, 2018 and May 15, 2018
Swiss authorities investigate paper and board packaging
Enforcement campaign finds mineral oils, plasticizers, photoinitiators, chlorinated substances in paper and board packaging; >50% of companies could not demonstrate legal compliance
EFSA assesses 2 FCM substances
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers ground sunflower seed hulls and diethyl[[3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]methyl]phosphonate safe for use in food contact materials under certain conditions
ECHA recommends 15 SVHCs for authorization
ECHA proposes to add 15 substances of very high concern to the REACH Authorization List; includes 3 food contact chemicals
Pew Charitable Trust report evaluates plastic pollution scenarios
Analysis calculates current commitments will only reduce plastic pollution flows into oceans by 7%; implementing all feasible solutions now could cut pollution by up to 78%; authors call for urgent and coordinated action by all stakeholders, redirecting all current and future investments away from virgin plastic infrastructure
US FDA adds seven new substances to FCS inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds seven new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance (FCS) Notifications