US state governor passes legislation banning polystyrene foam food packaging partially by 2023 and fully by 2025; sets penalty of $50 a day, civil organizations to be exempted; signed executive order regulating phase-out of non-reusable plastics from public institutions by July 21, 2021
October 15, 2020
EFSA’s styrene assessment requests systematic review
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) panel publishes assessment of styrene in plastic food contact materials, follows 2018 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) conclusion labelling it as ‘probably carcinogenic’; calls for systematic review of genotoxicity, toxicokinetics, species differences to determine safety
May 11, 2018
IARC: Styrene ‘probably carcinogenic’
International Agency for Research on Cancer concludes that styrene and styrene-6,8-oxide are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’
May 17, 2017
California sets safe level for styrene
State of California adopts No Significant Risk Level for styrene of 27 µg/day under Proposition 65; styrene exposure from polystyrene food packaging assumed to be low, likely requiring no warning label
May 16, 2017
New York City again bans polystyrene foam packaging
Expanded polystyrene food packaging to be banned in the City of New York effective November 13, 2017; foam recycling found not “economically feasible” or “environmentally effective”
October 24, 2016
Styrofoam ban discussed in Jamaica
Editorial in The Cleaner discusses a potential ban of plastic and styrofoam food containers in Jamaica
September 8, 2016
Push to ban polystyrene packaging in London
London restaurant chefs call for ban on polystyrene food packaging; UK food packaging association opposes request; recycler says focus should be on creating circular material systems
August 11, 2016
Migration of styrene oligomers into food
German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment evaluates migration of styrene oligomers from FCMs into food simulants; finds no evidence for health risks at currently measured migration levels
May 2, 2016
California: Styrene listing
State of California adds styrene to lists of known human carcinogens; polystyrene food packaging not affected by required styrene warning label
January 9, 2015
New York City bans plastic foam in food packaging
Proposed ban becomes effective after almost two years, no proof for economical recyclability found