EFSA working group updates in November and December 2019

Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA working groups on BPA and FCMs available

EFSA calls for information on FCM No. 19 and 20

European Food Safety Authority requests technical and toxicological information on two amines approved as additives in plastic food contact materials (FCMs) to review and potentially update initial assessments; declaration of intent to submit information required by January 20, 2020

EFSA: Updated risk assessment of five phthalates

European Food Safety Authority publishes updated risk assessment for the phthalates DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP, DIDP; retains developed group and individual tolerable daily intake limits; finds no current public health concern but cautions that values set are temporary due to uncertainties

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

EFSA risk assessment of MOAH in infant formula

Rapid risk assessment uses data submitted by member states, previous Foodwatch study; finds 95th percentile exposure of 0.8 to 44.6 µg/kg body weight per day; lack of data leads EFSA to conclude possible concern for human health

UK requested to revise PFAS TDIs

NGO CHEM Trust asks UK government agency to revise tolerable daily intake (TDI) of PFOS and PFOA to match EFSA recommendation, consider ban of PFAS in food contact materials

EFSA working group updates in October 2019

Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA working groups on BPS, BPA, FCMs, and recycling plastic available

EFSA assesses new plasticizer for PVC

European Food Safety Authority’s CEP Panel finds trimellitic acid, tris(2-ehtylhexyl) ester safe for use as plasticizer in soft PVC for making single-use wrap films or repeated use tubing

EFSA opinions on 10 recycling processes

European Food Safety Authority’s CEP Panel publishes scientific opinions on 10 recycling processes for post-consumer PET; all found to be safe for use in specified food contact applications

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