European Commission publicly announces new deal to serve as roadmap for making EU’s economy sustainable; includes creation of chemicals strategy for sustainability, zero-pollution action plan, circular economy action plan, farm to fork strategy; timeline for actions published
China calls for comments on food contact substances
China’s National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment solicits comments on new food contact substances and resins, expanded uses
Commission breaches EU law and treaty
European Parliament passes resolution on endocrine disruptors and condemns Commission’s illegal delay in setting scientific criteria for EDCs
EU Commission to create top science advice panel
New science advisory system of the Commission to be operational by autumn 2015, seven top level scientists will be recruited to advise European policy makers
European Commission responds to NGO letter on EDCs
Commission agrees with EFSA’s definition of EDCs and rejects criticism regarding EFSA’s independence
US EPA extends comment period on PFAS reporting requirements
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extends comment period for proposed reporting and recordkeeping requirements for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); would require manufacturers that produced PFAS at anytime since 2011 to make a one-time report with information about uses, production volumes, disposal, exposures, and hazards; comments accepted until September 27, 2021
EU’s Chemicals Strategy plans actions on FCMs
European Commission (EC) publishes Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; plans to ban PFAS for all non-essential uses, move towards grouping approach for regulation of all chemicals; specific actions for food contact materials (FCM) include extending generic approach to risk management, identifying endocrine disruptors, considering cumulative effects of chemical mixtures
Bamboo in plastic FCMs not authorized in the EU
European Commission’s Working Group concludes that bamboo-based additives are not authorized per se for use in plastic food contact materials in the EU; business operators to explicitly demonstrate safety by migration testing; migration of melamine, formaldehyde of high concern; additional concerns about misleading labeling and advertising
Vote on EDC criteria on hold
EU Commission presents latest revised draft of criteria to identify endocrine disruptors to Member States; no formal vote taken; next meeting not yet scheduled