Ministry of Food and Drug Safety publishes notice containing revisions to national food contact material regulations; adds polyketones as additional raw materials, groups synthetic resins into categories, issues updated standards on recycled synthetic resins including for polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
November 25, 2021
US lawmakers introduce new bill to ban PFAS in food packaging
Keep Food Containers Safe from PFAS act would disallow the sale of any food packaging intentionally containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) beginning on January 1, 2024; this most recent attempt by US lawmakers to address PFAS on a national level would now need to be approved by both the US House and Senate chambers
November 23, 2021
Canada mandates reporting on use of BPA and alternatives
Department of the Environment now requiring reporting from all manufacturers, importers, and users of bisphenol A (BPA) and over 180 alternative substances during the year 2019; includes commercial status, downstream uses; March 16, 2022 set as deadline for data submission
November 16, 2021
US EPA announces national recycling strategy
New strategy sets out five objectives including improving markets for recycled commodities, increasing collection, and standardizing measurements; sets nationwide recycling rate target of 50% by 2030; agency to work with stakeholders over coming months on implementation
October 28, 2021
US EPA publishes final toxicity assessment for GenX chemicals
Sets maximum daily intake limit of 3 ng/kg body weight/day for hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) dimer acid and its ammonium salt; final value is much lower than first suggested in earlier 2018 draft assessment, also lower than set reference dose for the hazardous chemical PFOA it was developed to safely replace
October 22, 2021
Plastic recycling: Future scenarios and behavioral influences
Five articles discuss future recycling and/or consumer waste sorting; outline future recycling technologies and recycled plastic applications; identify gaps between recycling technologies and targets of multi-material multilayer plastic packaging; find consumers wrongly dispose bioplastics and that packaging design affects sorting behavior; show single-use bag bans able to increase recycling contamination
October 20, 2021
Addressing ambiguity to improve the management of polymers
Researchers identify systematic ambiguity within CAS labeling framework as hampering public oversight on chemical safety; outline set of recommendations to close data gaps and increase transparent communication
October 18, 2021
Scientists estimate costs of phthalate-associated mortality
Scientific article evaluates mortality in relation to US adult phthalates exposure and quantifies costs; associates phthalate exposure with mortality stemming from all causes, cardiovascular mortality, and a societal cost of $39 to 47 billion per year
October 4, 2021
East Asian nations update food packaging guidelines
South Korea updates Standards and Specifications for Utensils, Containers, and Packages; releases 2021 Food and Drug Safety White Paper; China updates precision level on food packaging migration requirements; Taiwan to monitor the use of nitrogen in food packaging; Hong Kong statutory authority encourages stricter standards for silicone food contact articles
September 21, 2021
Six urgent questions to address PFAS
Environmental Science and Technology feature article discusses six urgent questions to be answered to address worldwide per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances’ (PFAS) contamination and health impacts; describes importance, barriers, and ways forward for each question; emphasizes the need for cooperation, increased transparency, consideration of environmental equity; US FDA’s budget request calls for increased investment in addressing PFAS
