German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment evaluates migration of styrene oligomers from FCMs into food simulants; finds no evidence for health risks at currently measured migration levels
News Article
August 11, 2016
News Article
November 1, 2019
Symposium on Food Contact Materials Safety
International Food Contact Materials Safety Symposium in Guangzhou, China brings together academic, industry, regulatory and civil society experts to discuss developments towards safer and sustainable packaging
News Article
May 29, 2017
EFSA reevaluates SML of antioxidant in plastic FCMs
EFSA’s CEF Panel agrees to increase specific migration limit of phosphorous acid, mixed 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl and 4-(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenyl triesters for use in plastic food contact materials
News Article
April 7, 2021
Germany notifies WTO of MOAH restrictions
German authorities notify World Trade Organization (WTO) about intention to restrict mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) in food contact materials and articles made from recycled paper and board; sets migration limits into food (<0.5 mg/kg) and food simulant (<0.15 mg/kg); will come into effect three years after publication
News Article
February 12, 2014
Ubiquitous exposure to phenolic food contact substances
New study investigates phenolic compounds in pregnant women, finds phenols in more than 90% of specimens, specific phenol exposure may depend on ethnic group
News Article
January 17, 2023
Microplastics impacts on the reproductive system and offspring
Scientists report human-relevant polystyrene (PS) microplastic concentrations change mice placental metabolism; show nanoplastics have variable effects on placental enzymes using simulations; find pre- and postnatal PS microplastic exposure affects male mice testis development and fertility; recommend future research to analyze multigenerational effects
News Article
April 17, 2020
EFSA considers new studies on bisphenol S
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) publishes technical report considering two new toxicological studies on bisphenol S (BPS) submitted under REACH; determines that current specific migration limit of 0.05 mg/kg food remains unaffected, calls for more data on migration into food
News Article
September 21, 2016
Concerns over mineral oils
German TV station airs report on unpublished EFSA document; toxicological consequences of mineral oil exposure allegedly exceed previous assumptions; expert recommends “drastic reduction” of exposure
News Article
October 19, 2022
Beyond BPA – Many bisphenols migrate from food packaging
Four studies investigate bisphenol (BP) migration from food packaging and human health effects; demonstrate wide presence of 11 bisphenols in polystyrene take-out food containers from China, Canada, and Poland; report material quality influences BPA migration from polycarbonate cups; indicate higher BPA migration from lined cans than plastic packaging into meat based on probabilistic models; find bisphenols A, F, and S induce genotoxic effects and changes in human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) expression using human blood cells
News Article
November 23, 2022
Ukraine aligning FCM regulations with EU
Ukraine’s Ministry of Health notifies World Trade Organization of a draft restriction on vinyl chloride in contact with food; restriction aligns with a 1978 European Council declaration on vinyl chloride in food contact materials (FCMs); ministry announces other alignments including on migration of lead and cadmium from ceramic FCMs
