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 probably don't know is that these nice coloured paper … [Read more...] about Will you be using toxic napkins at Christmas?
Food
The secretive (and ineffective) world of EU rules controlling chemicals used in food packaging (updated)
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 which the European Commission works … [Read more...] about The secretive (and ineffective) world of EU rules controlling chemicals used in food packaging (updated)
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 contact materials (FCM) … [Read more...] about As concerns mount, EU Commission finally commits to action on laws regulating chemicals in packaging
IT’S A NO BRAINER! Action needed to stop children being exposed to chemicals that harm their brain development!
A report published today by CHEM Trust highlights how chemicals in food and consumer products used in homes, schools and offices could harm brain development in children. The impacts – which may include ADHD and lower IQ - are avoidable and can prevent children reaching their full potential says CHEM Trust, in No Brainer: The impact of chemicals on children’s brain … [Read more...] about IT’S A NO BRAINER! Action needed to stop children being exposed to chemicals that harm their brain development!
Laws regulating chemicals in food packaging are not good enough, European Parliament says
The European Parliament has today overwhelmingly backed a report calling for substantial improvements in the laws covering the chemicals that are used in food packaging and processes, and which can leach into the food we eat. They also called for a ban on the use of the hormone disrupting chemical Bisphenol A in all food contact materials. … [Read more...] about Laws regulating chemicals in food packaging are not good enough, European Parliament says
MEPs on Environment committee call for EU regulation of chemicals in paper & board packaging
MEPs on the European Parliament's Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee have this morning voted to strengthen their draft report on the regulation of Food Contact Materials. They are calling for the European Commission to create new regulations to ensure that people's health is protected from chemicals in paper and board packaging, and for particularly … [Read more...] about MEPs on Environment committee call for EU regulation of chemicals in paper & board packaging
Chemicals in food contact materials: notes from a workshop on regulatory gaps
There’s increasing debate on the problems with the laws covering chemicals in food contact materials such as packaging, with the European Parliament currently discussing a report on the issue. On 10th March 2016 CHEM Trust organised a workshop in Brussels to discuss one important aspect, the overlap and gaps between the main chemicals regulation REACH and the laws on chemicals … [Read more...] about Chemicals in food contact materials: notes from a workshop on regulatory gaps
European Parliament study and draft MEP report confirm problems with EU laws on food contact chemicals
The debate on the regulation of chemicals in Food Contact Materials - such as packaging - is starting to heat up, with a new study from the European Parliament’s Research Service (EPRS) echoing many of the criticisms that CHEM Trust made in our briefing on the subject. In addition, the MEP acting as a rapporteur on the European Parliament's investigation of this issue, … [Read more...] about European Parliament study and draft MEP report confirm problems with EU laws on food contact chemicals
New US study finds fast food consumption associated with exposures to phthalates
New research, published today finds that people in the US who eat more fast food have higher levels of certain phthalate chemicals in their urine. The chemicals found, DEHP and DINP, are used as plasticisers in PVC plastics, and their use is partially restricted in Europe due to health concerns; they are also hormone (endocrine) disrupters. … [Read more...] about New US study finds fast food consumption associated with exposures to phthalates
Chemicals in food contact materials: A gap in the internal market, a failure in public protection
Food packaging, factory equipment, food utensils - almost everything we eat has been in contact with one or more of these items. The EU’s laws should ensure that chemicals used in these materials are safe, but they do not go far enough and contain holes. These holes – for example a lack of harmonised rules on paper and card, inks, coatings and adhesives – mean that public … [Read more...] about Chemicals in food contact materials: A gap in the internal market, a failure in public protection