Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA CEP panel and working groups on BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastics published; scientific opinions on benzophenone‐3,3′,4,4′‐tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BDTA), multiple recycling processes published
Scientist renounces anti-BPA crusade
Richard Sharpe from the University of Edinburgh argues in an interview that public funds should be spent on more harmful environmental health concerns than BPA
Harmonizing human and ecological risk assessment of mixtures
EFSA gathers international experts to debate exposures to chemical mixtures
Opinion: Caution needed on simplified REACH authorization process
CHEM Trust is concerned that simplification proposals for REACH could increase chemical risks
Edible packaging market expected to grow
Market study predicts development of the edible packaging market at compounded annual rate of 6.8%; expected to be worth over $1 billion by 2023
Chemicals harm brain development
New report by the non-profit organization CHEM Trust summarizes the effects of environmental chemicals on child brain development; calls for phasing out harmful chemicals as groups, not removing them one by one
What should be included in UN Plastics Treaty negotiations?
International negotiators prepare for first meeting to negotiate the UN treaty to end plastic pollution; scientists, civil society organizations, and governmental bodies publish reports proposing suggestions for what and how to negotiate; many reports support including controls on chemical additives as part of the treaty
MigraTox: Optimizing in vitro testing of FCMs
Austrian Research Institute for Chemistry and Technology (OFI) initiates MigraTox project to work on optimizing and standardizing sample preparation and bioassays for in vitro testing of food contact materials; focuses on genotoxicity assays; calls on industrial partners to collaborate and provide samples
Ways towards more sustainable packaging
Brands, packaging producers and other stakeholders gather in Barcelona to discuss sustainable packaging; current focus on increasing recycling, but packaging reduction and reuse are the mid-term aims; chemical safety only touched upon briefly
PFAS in breast milk
Study shows that breast milk is major source of exposure to perfluorinated chemicals for infants; researchers express concern but do not discourage breastfeeding