Stockholm Convention proposal to eliminate use of UV-328 as plastic additive receives pushback from oil and chemical manufacturers; process preparing for draft risk profile discussion at upcoming January 2022 meeting
June 30, 2021
Thailand proposes standards on plastic food contact articles
Thailand notifies the World Trade Organization of five draft regulations concerning plastic utensils as well as concerning microwaveable and non-microwavable plastic bags
June 23, 2021
Discussion on polymer registration under REACH goes into 4th round
EU Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL) subgroup members debate on the identification of polymers requiring registration and their grouping; consider different opinions of stakeholders on group size, acceptable hazard variation within a group and options to deal with the variety of molecular weights one polymer can have; discussions to continue until end of 2021
June 22, 2021
Update: More US states now ban PFAS in food packaging
Connecticut, Vermont, and Minnesota join set of US states that ban use of PFAS in food packaging; Vermont ban also implements a procedure for considering phase-out of bisphenols in food packaging; Minnesota bill funds study to find which products within the state contain PFAS; Governor of New Mexico call on US Environmental Protection Agency to list PFAS as hazardous waste
June 22, 2021
Study maps intentionally added substances in plastics
Scientists investigate plastic monomers, additives, and processing aids for their chemical identity, use, and hazard classification; identify >10,000 chemicals; 24% categorized as substances of potential concern of which the majority is not currently subject to management measures; emphasize information gaps regarding substance properties and uses
June 21, 2021
ECHA publishes five-year REACH and CLP review
European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) publishes five-year review on the operation of REACH and CLP regulations; discusses impacts and shortcomings; 71 chemicals added to harmonized classification and labeling list; in 90% of cases, chemical’s general safety assessment is performed and communicated down the supply chain but half are incomplete; 33% of safety data sheets for mixtures not compliant, 17% incorrectly classified; 44% of chemicals needing authorization due to health risks are being phased out likely due to REACH
June 16, 2021
Global Food Contact opening keynote highlights EC FCM updates
2021 Smithers Pira conference covers global developments in food contact regulations and materials; opening keynote by Jonathan Briggs details latest developments on the European Commission’s (EC) update on food contact material (FCM) legislation; release of the EC’s final impact assessment pushed back to 2023, but staff working document on FCMs planned for the end of 2021
June 14, 2021
Call to consider persistence as CLP hazard class
Global PFAS Science Council comments on proposed revision of European Union classification, labeling and packaging (CLP) regulation; calls for the CLP to “introduce persistence as a stand-alone hazard classification”
June 14, 2021
ISOE: Guidance on reducing and improving food packaging materials
Scientists at the German Institute for Social-Ecological Research (ISOE) give practical recommendations for food supply companies, associations as well as decision-makers related to reducing single-use and supporting multiple-use packaging, recycling, and innovation on a technological and organizational level
June 11, 2021
Toxic Free Food Act introduced in US
Representative Rosa DeLauro introduces Toxic Free Food Act to United States House of Representatives; bill would require US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publicly review all chemicals related to food that are currently allowed under the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) rule; novel chemicals and carcinogens would no longer be allowed under GRAS
