Industry association PlasticsEurope loses third court case challenging legal classification of bisphenol A (BPA) as substance of very high concern (SVHC); EU General Court supports European Chemicals Agency’s recognition of BPA’s endocrine disrupting effects on wildlife
2023 FPF Workshop: Goals and policy processes for safe and sustainable FCMs
On the morning of the Food Packaging Forum’s 11th annual workshop, speakers share processes to measure sustainable food packaging while accounting for multiple concerns; three speakers share findings from developing frameworks to make packaging safer, account for tradeoffs, and reduce plastic packaging use; three speakers share how policy is developed at the United Nations and European Union
PFAS detected in European disposable food packaging
Coalition of civil society organizations samples paper food packaging articles from major fast-food chains and supermarkets across six European countries; chemical analysis finds 32 articles were intentionally treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); differences identified among countries, results show the currently few national regulations on PFAS are effective where they are in place
Microplastics in placentas: occurrence, sources, and effects
Three studies on microplastics and the human placenta; demonstrate particle presence in several intracellular compartments of placentas for the first time; assume breastfeeding and plastic toy usage as microplastic exposure sources to lactating infants; associate placental plastics with reduced fetal growth
Perfluorinated compounds might increase miscarriage risk
Study finds strong significant associations between serum concentrations of several perfluorinated alkylated substances and miscarriage risk in Danish women
EU Parliament debates EDCs
Scientific criteria for endocrine disrupting chemicals will be out before the summer 2016, says EU Commissioner during plenary debate
Short assessment on alternatives to plastic straws
In preparation for the EU Single-Use Plastic Directive taking effect July 3, 2021, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) releases short report on alternatives to plastic straws; suggests silicone, stainless steel or glass for frequent use; for single-use, durum wheat with cold drinks and paper or board are safe if no chemicals of concern added
EFSA publishes hazard assessment protocol for reevaluation of FCM plasticizers
European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) protocol outlines strategy for collecting data and appraising evidence for hazard assessment of phthalates and other plasticizers in food contact materials (FCMs); latest step in agency’s reevaluation of risks to public health
EFSA: Communicating uncertainty
European Food Safety Authority publishes guidance on communicating uncertainty to complement previously published guidance on uncertainty analysis in scientific assessments
Scientists support EFSA’s revised risk assessment on BPA, commentary
Over 40 scientists jointly comment on chemical risk assessment practices; endorse European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) risk assessment on BPA; urge for more science-based regulation approaches