Engineer estimates U.S. plastic recycling rate below 5% in 2018, calls for ‘real solutions’ to plastic pollution such as reduced production of single-use plastics, implementation of deposit schemes
CEP Panel: 1st plenary meeting
EFSA’s newly formed CEP Panel held 1st plenary meeting, July 4-5, 2018; working groups established; ongoing mandates and PET recycling process discussed
FPF Workshop 2019: How to improve FCM law and enforcement in the EU
Konrad Grob criticizes FCM regulation and enforcement in the EU, suggests future actions for improvement
EU Council adopts single-use plastic bans
European Council formally adopts new rules on single-use plastics and recycling targets; directive completes final step before becoming law; England to ban plastic straws, stirrers, and cotton buds from April 2020
EFSA: Safety assessment of 3 FCM substances
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers substances 2,4-di-tert-amylphenol, montmorillonite clay modified by dimethyldialkyl(C16-C18)ammonium chloride, and 4-acrylamido-4-methyl-2-pentanone as safe for use in food contact materials under certain conditions
Book on EDC effects and costs
New book by Leonardo Trasande reviews human health effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals, provides recommendations for reducing exposures
Switzerland: 25% of PVC lid gaskets exceed plasticizer migration limits
Swiss national campaign analyses 109 oily food samples packaged in glass jars on the compliance of migration of plasticizers from their lid gaskets; comparison with European campaigns conducted a decade ago shows similar proportion of non-compliant samples with non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC)-gasket; urges food businesses to pay more attention to the suitability of their products lids
EFSA working group on FCMs: 29th meeting
Updated meeting minutes of EFSA’s CEF Panel working group on food contact materials now available online
Single-use plastics directive coming into force
EU’s single-use plastics directive now published in the Official Journal of the EU
EFSA: Safety assessment of PET recycling process
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers ‘BTB PET direct IV+’-recycled PET safe for contact with all foodstuffs for long-term storage at room temperature, with or without hotfill; trays made of this recycled PET not to be used in microwave and ovens