CHEM Trust

Protecting humans and wildlife from harmful chemicals

DG Sanco

We write to the EU Health Commissioner regarding our concerns regarding misleading communication of EFSA’s Bisphenol A report

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On 25th February we sent a letter to the EU's Health and Food Safety Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, highlighting our concerns with the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) conclusions on Bisphenol A (BPA), and also asking what progress has been made in addressing the regulatory gaps in our protection from chemicals in food packaging. … [Read more...] about We write to the EU Health Commissioner regarding our concerns regarding misleading communication of EFSA’s Bisphenol A report

Chemicals in food packaging: a can of worms? (updated 29th Jan 2015)

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Back in July, a report from the Food Packaging Forum highlighted that many hazardous chemicals are used in food contact packaging - and we wrote a letter to EU Health Commissioner Borg expressing our concerns about the situation. The Commission has since stated that it is soon to start a study of this issue at the EU's Joint Research Centre (JRC). On October 9th the Food … [Read more...] about Chemicals in food packaging: a can of worms? (updated 29th Jan 2015)

The EU’s ‘independent’ scientific committees: too much industry influence?

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A new report  “Chemical conflicts”, from Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) - who specialise in exposing corporate lobbying - finds that two-thirds of scientists advising the EU on controversial substances have industry links. CEO looked at four recent case studies of chemicals that had been examined by the European Commission’s Scientific Committees: parabens, nano titanium … [Read more...] about The EU’s ‘independent’ scientific committees: too much industry influence?

EU criteria for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Responsibility moving from DG Environment to DG Health & Consumer Affairs

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Chemical Watch is reporting that the European Commission is re-organising responsibility for  the setting of criteria for endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), moving it from the Environment Directorate General (DG) to DG Health and Consumer Affairs (or 'Sanco'), though DG Environment will remain in charge of overall EDC policy. In addition, responsibility for biocides and … [Read more...] about EU criteria for Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: Responsibility moving from DG Environment to DG Health & Consumer Affairs

Commission studying the problem of chemicals in packaging – but will the new Commissioner act on the results?

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Back in July, worrying new research on hazardous chemicals in food packaging led to CHEM Trust writing a letter to the current EU Commissioner for Health, Tonio Borg - more details in this blog post. We are particularly concerned about gaps in regulation for chemicals in non-plastic food contact materials (cardboard, ink, glue etc), and the fact that the new research found … [Read more...] about Commission studying the problem of chemicals in packaging – but will the new Commissioner act on the results?

Hazardous chemicals in food packaging: CHEM Trust writes to EU Commissioner Borg

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New research published this week has revealed that hazardous chemicals - including endocrine disrupting chemicals - are used in packaging around food (food contact packaging). In the study - which has been reported by the Daily Mail and the Daily Express - the authors identified 175 potentially hazardous substances legally used in the production of food contact materials in … [Read more...] about Hazardous chemicals in food packaging: CHEM Trust writes to EU Commissioner Borg