California considers policy on PFAS in food packaging

US state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) holds virtual workshop to collect input from stakeholders on use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in plant fiber-based food packaging; suggests it could decide to limit scope of products considered in upcoming policy, draws criticism from advocacy groups

EEB PFAS webinar series and overview report

European Environmental Bureau (EEB) hosts series of four webinars in September 2020 featuring presentations from academic experts on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; publishes overview report prioritizing fluorotelomer substances, their side-chain fluorinated polymers, fluorinated (poly)ethers

Webinar on PFAS testing methods for food packaging

Multi-stakeholder initiative ‘Charting the Path’ investigates current testing methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food service ware and food packaging; discusses recommendations for food service ware, fluorinated chemical standards, and San Francisco ordinance

EU notifies C9-C14 PFCA restriction to WTO

European Union notifies World Trade Organization of proposed amendment to REACH Restriction List (Annex XVII) to restrict manufacturing, use, placing on the market and import of C9-C14 perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), their salts and related substances within the EU; long-chain PFCAs can be present in food contact materials as impurities but also degradation products of long-chain fluorotelomers

‘PFAS-free’ guides for restaurants and groceries

US NGO Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families releases guides on eliminating per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from food packaging used by fast-food restaurants and grocery chains

Study detects PFAS across US fast food restaurant packaging

Mind the Store campaign and Toxic-Free Future collect and test 29 food packaging samples from 6 US fast food chains for fluorine levels; find that burger wrappers and containers from McDonald’s and Burger King likely treated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); paper bags used for French fries and deserts have consistently high fluorine levels

6:2 FTOH manufacturers to phase out use in food packaging

Three manufacturers of the short chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) commit to voluntarily phase out use by 2023; concerns about potential persistence in humans following dietary exposure

California to hold virtual workshop on PFAS in food packaging

Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) workshop on August 31, 2020 to receive public input on identifying plant-fiber based food packaging as priority product; report with product-chemical profile published and open for public comment until September 13, 2020

Critics call for review of US EPA’s final new use rule on PFAS

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes final significant new use rule (SNUR) for set of long-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); final version omits language applying rule to interior-facing surface coatings, results in call for formal inspection of rule making process by government officials; Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) criticizes agency for non-transparent approval of new PFASs via process exemptions

State of New York to ban PFAS in food packaging

House and Senate chambers both pass legislation, set to ban use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging starting in 2023; legislation sent to state governor for signature into law