EFSA publishes scientific opinions on perfluorinated processing aid and monomer for can coating
P&P conference 2019: FCM legal developments
Keynote talks and presentations during Smithers Pira’s annual conference on plastics and paper in contact with food inform about new EU legislation and global regulatory developments
EFSA evaluates Gneuss recycling for PET
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers PET made from Gneuss recycling processes safe for use in food contact articles intended ‘for long-term storage at room temperature with all types of food stuffs’; trays made of this recycled PET not to be used in microwave or conventional oven
Genotoxic chemicals in coatings
Scientists compile inventory of compounds potentially used in coatings; 1,976 substances have no (recent) toxicological evaluation; subset analyzed by in silico tools and literature search, 10 compounds designated as ‘high concern’
Chemical characterization of post-consumer and recycled plastics
Scientists perform target and non-target screening of recycled plastics and provide recommendations on methods; detect >280 organic chemicals and metals in 21 plastic flakes and pellets used in recycling; analyze several recycled polymers and find polyethylene terephthalate (PET) the only one currently complying with European circular economy requirements; compare analytical methods to assess the chemical composition of recyclates giving their strenghts and limitations
Japan identifies priority assessment substances
Ministries in Japan announce 15 new substances as priority assessment substances, 6 of which known to be used in food contact materials; requires annual reporting for import and manufacture
NGOs sue FDA over final GRAS rule
Environmental Defense Fund and other NGOs file lawsuit challenging U.S. FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) practice allowing industry to make self-determinations of food additives’ safety
Uptake of microplastics on the rise – especially in Southeast Asia
Recent studies explore uptake pathways of microplastics; uptake has increased in recent years; rapidly industrializing Southeast Asian countries more impacted; food packaging responsible for approx. 2.98 × 103 microplastics/person/year; higher exposure for regular consumers of bottled water, tea brewed from plastic tea bags, or ultrafiltered milk
Scientists find novel enzyme to break down PET
Publication in the journal Nature reports new enzyme able to break down 90% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic into monomers within ten hours, outperforms all previously discovered enzymes
EFSA evaluates 3 PET recycling processes
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers recycling processes of post-consumer PET safe for all types of foodstuffs except packaged water