News provider and consultancy ChemLinked publishes article comparing Chinese and European food contact material (FCM) policies
August 23, 2022
Associations report European packaging recycling rates
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
August 8, 2022
NGO coalition launches campaign on food packaging
Zero Waste Europe, CHEMTrust, and HEAL launch website for toxic free food packaging campaign; campaign focuses on the revision of the EU food contact materials law
July 28, 2022
EU initiative for more efficient and effective chemical data sharing
European Commission opens comment period on a plan to increase data transparency and data sharing about chemicals between EU institutions, Member States, and the public; goal to increase harmonization and sharing of information among the more than 40 chemical “legislative instruments” within the EU; comment period open until August 16, 2022
July 7, 2022
Plastics industry: EU market fragmented around SUPD
European plastics associations map Member State implementation of the EU single use plastics directive (SUPD) a year after it was supposed to go into effect
June 24, 2022
Member States endorse a strong REACH revision
Ministers of environment from 8 EU Member States write open letter to EU Commission to uphold the original ambitions of the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability during the REACH revision and elsewhere in EU policy; Commission should set date for when hazardous chemicals must be out of consumer products; regulations should include essential use concept, risk assessment of chemicals mixtures
June 22, 2022
Food contact chemical added to SVHC candidate list
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) adds n-(hydroxymethyl)acrylamide to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHC); used in a wide array of food contact applications across Europe, Asia, Mercosur, and the US; obligates producers and suppliers within the EU to provide safety information and to notify ECHA
April 12, 2022
ECHA identifies 34 bisphenols for group restriction
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) recommends 34 bisphenols be classified as substances of very high concern (SVHCs) as a group; three of the bisphenols already individually classified as SVHCs; for some bisphenols, more data necessary before classification; group classification can help avoid regrettable substitution
March 30, 2022
Update on recycled plastics FCM regulation in Europe
Standing Committee of the European Commission debates a slightly revised draft regulation on recycled plastics in food contact materials (FCMs); voting carried out as written procedure; final decision expected to be favorable
March 30, 2022
VZBV finds consumers are confused about food contact materials
Market research from German consumer organization Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband (VZBV) finds consumers are concerned about food packaging safety but have little understanding of chemicals in packaging; consumers assume all food contact materials and their components have been tested for safety
