On Monday 11th February 2019 the EU finally launched a public consultation into the EU’s ineffective laws covering the use of chemicals in food contact materials such as packaging, pipes and kitchen utensils. As we have highlighted in the past, the current laws do not properly protect public health, as many materials – like paper, [...]
DG Santé
For over four years CHEM Trust has been calling for the EU to review its ineffective laws regulating chemicals in chemicals in Food Contact Materials (FCM) like food packaging. On September 24th, the European Commission invited a wide range of stakeholders to a workshop in Brussels to (finally!) launch this review. As we have highlighted [...]
On March 27th CHEM Trust published the “Toxic Soup” report, which examined how industry is being allowed to replace the well-known hormone disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA), with very similar chemicals that may also be harmful, for example bisphenol S (BPS). The day before we had sent letters to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European [...]
Last week another milestone was reached in Europe`s slow and ineffective process to protect our health and environment by reducing exposures to pesticides and biocides with harmful endocrine disrupting (ED) properties. On January 31st a public consultation on the draft guidance document for identifying endocrine disrupters closed. This guidance is important because describes how industry and [...]
Today, the 16th January 2018, the EU Commission released its long-expected Plastics Strategy. The Strategy includes an announcement that the Commission has started the process to ban both intentionally added microplastics and oxo-degradable plastics. Both these bans will be implemented as Restrictions under the EU’s main chemicals law REACH. The Commission also announced a a [...]
The weather is cooling down, Christmas street lights are switched on, New Year’s Eve celebrations are being prepared… It is the season to get merry and enjoy dinners with family and friends. You will probably use Christmassy paper napkins to decorate your table or to wrap slices of cakes and other sweets. However, what you [...]
CHEM Trust has been highlighting the severe deficiencies in the EU’s regulation of chemicals in food contact materials, where the laws have big gaps (e.g. paper and card food packaging), and allow continued use of hazardous chemicals. However, we are not just concerned with the deficiencies in the regulations, but also with the secrecy with [...]
Food packaging, factory equipment, food utensils – almost everything we eat has been in contact with one or more of these items, which are classified in EU law as ‘Food Contact Materials’ (FCMs). Latest update: A new blog, “Finally, a review of Europe’s ineffective laws on chemicals in food contact materials has begun“, reporting on the [...]
After years of delays, debates and continued exposure of people and wildlife to chemicals with hormone disrupting properties (EDCs), experts from EU governments voted this morning to support the latest Commission proposal defining criteria for identifying endocrine disrupters. In CHEM Trust’s view the criteria will not properly protect public health and the environment, as they [...]
As concerns mount, EU Commission finally commits to action on laws regulating chemicals in packaging
Following on from a very critical report by the European Parliament, the European Commission has finally announced that it will review the laws regulating the chemicals allowed in food contact materials such as packaging. They have also published a detailed study showing the extent of the problems caused by the lack of adequate EU rules covering food [...]
