Industry associations report recycling rates of packaging materials in Europe; average collection rate of glass bottles and jars hit 80% in 2020; paper packaging recycling over 80%; paper recycling rates close to theoretical maximum; plastic recycling has not increased despite increased demand by beverage companies; two-thirds of plastic-packaging pledges in Europe failed, supporting the change away from single-use likely necessary
Food additives and child health
Policy statement and technical report by American Academy of Pediatrics describe child health effects of direct and indirect food additives, provide recommendations for reducing exposures, call for revision of food additives regulation in the U.S.
JRC: Report 2016 on alternatives to animal testing
European Union Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM) publishes 2016 status report providing an update on its activities
US FDA updates to food contact inventory since April
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 18 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCNs) since April 2022
Progress in high-throughput in vitro testing
In vitro assays and alternative approaches being developed for EPA’s Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program and within EU-ToxRisk are hitting ground
EFSA: Genotoxicity of mixtures
European Food Safety Authority publishes statement on genotoxicity assessment of chemical mixtures
The war on science?
Investigative article in In These Times outlines how chemical industry influences and delays U.S. chemical regulation by informing with manipulated and misleading “science”
EU Member States adopt EDC criteria
EU Member States vote in favor of European Commission-proposed criteria to identify endocrine disruptors in the field of plant protection products; both industry and NGOs view adopted criteria as ‘flawed,’ call on European Parliament to veto the proposal
Children’s exposure to EDCs
New study finds BPA, nonylphenol, phthalates, and parabens in American children’s urine; call for further research on EDC’s role in pediatric hormonal disorders