UK government rejects earlier recommendation from committee report to ban Substances of Very High Concern from food contact materials
EU launches app about SVHCs in products
AskREACH project’s ‘Scan4Chem’ app allows consumers to scan product barcodes and retrieve information on presence of substances of very high concern (SVHCs); users can also submit information requests to companies, see all requests and responses across EU countries
Draft of EU chemicals strategy shows internal disagreements
Leaked draft version developed by DG Environment and commented on by DG Grow; proposed mixture assessment factor not supported by DG Grow, overall wording requested to be ‘less definitive and committing’; NGOs concerned revisions could place public health behind corporate interests
FCMs, gut health and risk assessment
New scientific article reviews food contact chemicals’ effects on gut permeability, microbiota, and immune responses; scientific justification for risk assessment assumptions questioned
Danish environment minister comments on EDC criteria
Esben Lunde Larsen appreciates effort, but criticizes outcome of EC’s criteria on endocrine disrupting chemicals; proposes two category approach identifying confirmed and suspected EDCs
EC: Strategy on plastics in circular economy
EU commission publishes roadmap for strategy on plastics in a circular economy; aims to decouple plastics production from fossil fuels, boost recycling and reuse, and reduce leakage into the environment