Public and political concerns related to chemical exposures, human health, and environmental pollution continue to grow; brief overview of some of the EU, US, and UN policies and projects that FPF is tracking in 2024
March 14, 2023
FDA adds 3 new substances to FCS inventory
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 2 new coatings and a microbial agent to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substances (FCS)
February 28, 2023
Proposals for change from inside and outside the US FDA
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposes structural changes within the institution in response to recent critique; includes increased focus on nutrition, partnerships with other regulatory authorities and incorporating outside advisors; Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) publishes report on obesogens; encourages FDA to ‘incorporate framework’ to identify obesogens and other endocrine disruptors when reviewing chemical safety
February 23, 2023
US FDA updates to food contact inventory since August 2022
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 26 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCNs) since August 2022
December 28, 2022
Independent panel recommends considerable changes to US FDA
Reagan-Udall Foundation publishes independent evaluation of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) human foods program; provides 32 recommendations concerning agency culture, structure, resources, and authorities
November 9, 2022
Congressional watchdog recommends changes within US FDA
US Government Accountability Office (GAO) publishes report for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve oversight of food contact chemicals; recommends the agency request legal authority from Congress to compel companies to provide more information on chemical use and safety as well as systematically track when substances were last reviewed
October 26, 2022
Do you have information on ortho-phthalates in food contact? Tell the FDA
US Food and Drug Administration extends comment period on their request for information on ortho-phthalates in food contact. Submit information until December 27, 2022
October 18, 2022
Action and inaction on PFAS in the US federal government
Earthjustice files petition asking US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke approval of 600 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) allowed on the market under exemptions of the Toxic Substances Control Act; represents about half the number of PFAS on the market; EPA extends reach of guidelines for federal purchasing of PFAS-free products; Food and Drug Administration funding bill stripped of reform amendments including federal ban on PFAS in food packaging
August 4, 2022
US FDA updates to food contact inventory since April
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) adds 18 new entries to its Inventory of Effective Food Contact Substance Notifications (FCNs) since April 2022
July 27, 2022
Update: FDA extends phthalate data collection period
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extends data submission period for its request for information about phthalates in food contact use; length of extension currently unknown
