EFSA plastics recycling working group: 2nd meeting

EFSA’s CEP Panel working group on recycling plastics holds 2nd meeting; minutes now available online

EFSA assesses ‘RecyPET Hungária’ recycling process

EFSA’s CEP Panel considers recycling process ‘RecyPET Hungária’ insufficiently characterized with regard to decontamination efficiency to produce safe recycled PET

EFSA phthalates working group: 3rd meeting

EFSA’s CEP Panel working group on phthalates reassesses safety of DBP, BBP, DEHP, DINP and DIDP for food contact plastics; updated meeting minutes now available online

Omics in risk assessment

EFSA publishes final report on ‘omics in risk assessment’ colloquium; omics tools a ‘valuable addition’ for risk assessment but not yet to be used as a standalone tool; development and endorsement of ‘consistent reporting framework’ necessary

ECHA: Microplastics likely end up in soil and freshwater

ECHA’s risk assessment finds intentionally added microplastics more likely to accumulate in terrestrial and freshwater environments than in oceans

Safety of microplastic in bottled water

Literature-based risk assessment of microplastic in bottled mineral water finds no safety concerns for consumers from particles or small chemicals therein

CEP Panel: 3rd plenary meeting

EFSA’s CEP Panel held 3rd plenary meeting on October 23-25, 2018, with open sessions; new PET recycling processes, food contact chemicals, updated risk assessment for 5 phthalates discussed

EFSA BPA reevaluation: 3rd and 4th meeting

EFSA’s CEP Panel Working Group on BPA safety reevaluation holds 3rd and 4th meeting; minutes available online

Risk assessment for styrene oligomers

Risk assessment based on TTC and FACET methodology finds low risk for styrene dimers and trimers migrating from polystyrene food containers

Draft toxicity assessment for GenX and PFBS

U.S. EPA releases draft toxicity assessments for fluorinated substances ‘GenX chemicals’ and PFBS used as replacements for PFOA and PFOS; public comments accepted for 60 days after publication in Federal Register