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
Chinese consultation on five food contact substances
China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment calls for comments on five food contact substances; includes glass fiber, polymeric substances for use in paper, coatings
China’s PVC pipe makers may phase out lead
PlasticsEurope reports on Chinese industry move to replace lead as a stabilizer in PVC pipes
ChemSec: SIN List chemicals for Candidate List
International Chemical Secretariat responds to ECHA’s analysis of SIN List, deems current regulatory process too slow, demands adding all SIN List chemicals on SVHC Candidate List for authorization
State of New York to ban PFAS in food packaging
House and Senate chambers both pass legislation, set to ban use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging starting in 2023; legislation sent to state governor for signature into law
Petition calls for US FDA to consider cumulative effects
Coalition requests US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to follow its own mandate to consider cumulative effects of chemicals present during safety assessments; covers chemicals directly added to food, substances migrating from food packaging, substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS); finds only 1 of 877 existing GRAS notifications adhered to requirement
American Chemistry Council files lawsuits against California over BPA
American Chemistry Council responds to proposed listing of BPA as a reproductive toxin with a lawsuit
New York Times investigates PFAS and pregnancy
Publishes second article in three-part series on hazardous chemical exposure at home; provides overview of research on toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to developing fetuses, young children; profiles US families with high PFAS concentrations in drinking water, efforts to restrict uses
US EPA takes action on long-chain perfluorinated chemicals
US Environmental Protection Agency proposed Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) for soon-to-be phased-out perfluorinated chemicals