United States Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions adds the Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS Act as amendment to Food and Drug Administration funding bill; if it passes, PFAS would be banned in food packaging by January 1, 2024; trade groups in US state of Maine protest PFAS notification; Belgium plans national ban on PFAS if EU does not act by 2023; Japan bans 56 PFOA-related substances; Mexico proposes PFOS, PFOA import and export restrictions
July 26, 2022
US FDA and EPA publish requests for information on PFAS
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asks for information on the use of fluorinated polyethylene for food contact and dietary exposure due to migration; US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks responses to specific questions to help form PFAS strategic action plan; FDA comment period open until October 18, 2022, and EPA period until August 29, 2022
July 26, 2022
How to group PFAS? Expert panel finds no single answer
Panel of 12 experts in the fields of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemistry and toxicology, general mixtures risk assessment and toxicokinetics participate in series of blind surveys; experts representing academia, regulators, and consultants; discuss how to group PFAS
July 12, 2022
New research on chemical migration from plastic, paper, can coating, and reusables
Recent reports investigate whitening agents’ migration from disposable plastic containers; characterize 153 chemicals migrating from paper packaging and show estimated dietary exposure for children to per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) exceed safety threshold; detect brominated flame retardants in repeat-use food contact articles; review metal can coating literature concerning coatings types, chemical migrants, detection methods, dietary exposure, and regulatory
July 4, 2022
US ban on PFAS in food packaging moves to next step
United States Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions approves addition of amendment to routine bill funding the Food and Drug Administration that would ban PFAS in food packaging in the US; if bill ultimately passes, the ban would go into effect January 1, 2024
June 15, 2022
Colorado bans PFAS, establishes EPR scheme for packaging
Governor Jared Polis of the US state of Colorado signs bills regulating food packaging; House Bill 22-1355 establishes an extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme for packaging and printed paper; House Bill 22-1345 bans PFAS in eight product categories including food packaging by January 1, 2024
June 15, 2022
Washington State regulating chemicals of concern in food packaging
US state of Washington Department of Ecology publishes reports on phenolic compounds (e.g. bisphenols) and PFAS in certain food packaging types triggering countdown until new restrictions; phenolic compounds in drink can coatings to be restricted beginning June 2023; PFAS to be banned in bags and sleeves, bowls, flat serviceware, open-top containers, and closed containers by May 2024
June 7, 2022
Scientists identify most harmful food contact chemicals
Researchers led by the Food Packaging Forum (FPF) publish paper identifying 388 chemicals intentionally used in food contact materials (FCMs) that are harmful according to the EU’s Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability; 127 of these chemicals of concern have been measured to be present in FCMs including 30 monomers and 122 carcinogenic, mutagenic, or toxic to reproduction (CMR) chemicals
May 31, 2022
FCCmigex dashboard adds PFAS page
Food Packaging Forum updates its Database on Migrating and Extractable Food Contact Chemicals (FCCmigex) dashboard with page dedicated to research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging; 29 PFAS have been detected migrating from food packaging into food or food simulants
May 4, 2022
US states continue to develop local PFAS regulations
Maryland bans intentionally added PFAS in paper and board packaging, disposable plastic gloves by January 2024; Washington State accelerates PFAS Chemical Action Plan, Department of Ecology reported to be hiring more staff to undertake the accelerated timeline; Washingtonians say food related products should be main concern of state’s Safer Products for Washington Program; Vermont considers banning bisphenols in food packaging
