European Commission (EC) holds meeting reviewing draft regulatory texts for 15th and 16th amendment of plastics regulation 10/2011 and for plastic food contact materials (FCMs) recycling regulation; contemplates regulatory options for novel FCMs including plastics with bamboo fibers; presents specific updates and timelines for future work
January 16, 2020
IKEA recalls travel mug for containing DBP
International retailer issues recall for all “Troligtvis” travel mugs made in India; recent testing finds levels of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that exceed company’s set limits; phthalates have been prohibited in all IKEA food contact articles for years
January 14, 2020
Taco Bell to remove chemicals of concern from packaging
U.S. fast food chain announces new global packaging commitments; plans to remove PFAS, phthalates, BPA from its consumer packaging by 2025
December 23, 2019
EFSA to re-assess phthalates again
EU Commission plans to ask EFSA to do yet another risk assessment of phthalates in plastic food contact materials, look at endpoints other than reproductive toxicity
December 11, 2019
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
November 4, 2019
California identifies candidate substance groups
Department of Toxic Substances Control announces candidate groups of substances used in food packaging to be priority products under Safe Consumer Products program; includes BPA and alternatives, PFAS, and ortho-phthalates; two additional workshops scheduled in November and January to discuss chemicals, answer open questions
October 30, 2019
EU surveys phthalate uses in FCMs
DG SANTE seeks information on the uses of phthalates in plastic, non-plastic, multilayer food contact materials; survey open until November 8, 2019
October 3, 2019
HEAL publishes infographics on FCMs
New series of infographics by the Health and Environmental Alliance focuses on presence of chemicals in food contact materials, toxicity, plastics, and health effects; launched in connection with the Plastic Health Summit on October 3, 2019
October 1, 2019
EFSA working group updates: September 2019
Minutes from recent meetings of the EFSA working groups on BPS, BPA, FCMs, phthalates, and recycling plastic available
September 23, 2019
U.S. grocer plans packaging chemical restrictions
Ahold Delhaize USA to restrict chemicals of concern from private label products across all stores; targets chemicals including PFAS, BPA, phthalates; plans to increase testing to ensure compliance and partner with suppliers to identify contamination sources
