National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and Danish Environmental Protection Agency launch database containing over 600,000 chemical structures and (Q)SAR data on potential associated harmful effects
EFSA meets stakeholders on TTC
EFSA convenes stakeholders and international experts on Threshold of Toxicological Concern
Extended timeline: EFSA to publish BPA report in November
EFSA publicly consult on the scientific opinion on BPA in July, before publishing the final version in November
Cumulative effects on brain development
NRDC researcher calls upon the FDA to address cumulative effects of food additives on brain development
EFSA assesses liquid absorber for use in FCMs
EFSA’s CEP Panel considers polyacrylic acid, sodium salt, cross‐linked safe for use in plastic food contact materials under certain conditions and for indirect food contact only
EFSA assesses chemical mixture for use in active packaging
EFSA’s CEF Panel considers mixture of carboxymethylcellulose, acetylated distarch phosphate, bentonite, boric acid, and aluminum sulfate safe for use as liquid absorber under intended conditions of use
Immunomodulatory effects of EDCs
Scientists review studies reporting that some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can affect development and functions of human immune cells; consequences include altered responses to infections and development of immune related diseases; food contact material (FCM)-relevant immunomodulatory EDCs include bisphenols, phthalates, triclosan
Environmental risk assessment across fields
Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM) and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) hold joint symposium on environmental risk assessment, see ‘urgent need for harmonization of environmental risk assessment in different scientific fields’
EFSA’s activities on emerging risks
European Food Safety Authority publishes report summarizing activities related to emerging risk identification in 2018; considers food contact additives and related challenges of substituting materials
EFSA opinion on wood flour and fibres
EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes and Processing Aids (CEP) concludes that information supporting the current authorization of wood flour and fibres for use in plastic food contact materials is ‘insufficient’; criteria for future evaluations of plant materials for use as plastics additives address migration and toxicological evaluation of migrants