Statement by European reuse sector calls for harmonized reuse symbol for packaging under Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR); includes clear criteria to prevent misuse; European…

California lawmakers approve bill to ban PFAS in food packaging by 2028, cookware by 2030; Governor Gavin Newsom expected to sign by October 12

Study combines in silico, in vitro, and in vivo methods to identify food contact chemicals interfering with retinoid-X-receptor (RXR), potentially leading to adverse biological outcomes by endocrine…

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority issues draft food contact material (FCM) regulation; includes mandatory requirements for all FCMs, any standards not specified by Bangladesh should follow standards…

MAHA Commission plan outlines over 120 initiatives; items related to food contact include GRAS reform, removing harmful chemicals from the food supply, microplastics; agencies to expand research on…

European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) updates PFAS restriction proposal following public consultation; does not include major exceptions or derogations regarding food contact materials; aims to complete…

Legal challenge to the European Chemicals Agency's (ECHA) identification of melamine as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) rejected by General Court of the European Union; Melamine was…

In vitro study compares bisphenol A and 26 alternatives for their hazard potential using a battery of biological assays; suggests many BPA alternatives are regrettable substitutes; identifies…

First global estimate of premature cardiovascular mortality due to phthalates; finds di-2-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) exposure contributed globally to 356,238 deaths in 2018 among people aged 55-64;…

European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) annual report identifies gluten-containing biodegradable materials as one of seven emerging risks; three other issues about food packaging marked as possible…

The Food Packaging Forum’s Brand and Retailer Initiatives Database (BRID) now has the feature to filter for actions that have been rescinded or scaled back; as of July 2025, nearly 200 actions are…

Changes in the deposit return schemes in Ireland, Moldova, and Romania; modification in single-use plastic fees in Germany and the Netherlands; food contact material regulation updates in Denmark and…

Group of international PFAS experts publish statement on the definition of PFAS; concerned over new alternative industry definitions; launch sign-on campaign to support their statement

About one third of US states have taken regulatory action pertaining to food contact chemicals, materials, and/or articles in 2025; predominantly (i) phase-outs of PFAS in packaging and cookware,…

Environmental Defense Fund outlines reasons for the presence of unreviewed and unsafe ingredients in US food products; recommends Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to revoke unsafe ingredient…

Scientists publish systematically compiled overview on the properties, uses, and hazards of plastic chemicals; more than ¼ of the 16,325 plastic chemicals are of concern; recommend safer chemicals,…

Switzerland bans bisphenol A (BPA), other harmful bisphenols and harmful bisphenol derivatives in food contact materials; some bisphenols including bisphenol M and P not covered by current…

Swiss Federal Council amending the nation’s Ordinance on the Prevention and Disposal of Waste, and replacing the Ordinance on Beverage Packaging with a new Regulation on Packaging that covers all…

South American trade bloc MERCOSUR amends several food contact related regulations; Chile continues to develop its REACH-like chemicals management system, hazardous substances for non-industrial use…

YouTube video by Food Packaging Forum

Scientists point out that current chemicals management approach, centered around industry, is not fully protective of human and environmental health; introduce the concept of shaping consumer…

East Africa Community trading bloc announces several new standards; Egypt, Kenya implement extended producer responsibility schemes; Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Dubai implement various single use…

India accepting comments on revised guide of suitability of plastics for packaging guide, approves recycled PET for food contact; Indonesia mandating new paper and paperboard standard, updated FCM…

Translated frequently asked questions (FAQ) detail requirements for Japanese plastic food contact materials positive list; transitional measures for complying with the positive list will expire on…

Scientists analyze currently used indicators for monitoring and enforcing waste prevention; include 123 national and company indicators in Europe; analysis reveals large disparities, inconsistencies,…

European scientists write an open letter to the European Commission; express that the proposed scope of the REACH revision does not reflect current scientific evidence; call for inclusion of a…

Make Our Children Healthy Again Assessment aims to summarize US “childhood chronic disease crisis and any potential contributing causes”; Assessment mandated by Executive Order with additional…

Food Packaging Forum releases the Food Contact Chemicals Priority (FCCprio) List; 1,222 substances have harmonized hazard data showing persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility, carcinogenicity,…

Study investigates commodity global plastic flows across production, trade, and waste management in 2022; finds that of 400 million tonnes, less than 10% come from recycling and less than 2 % from…

Scientists expose mice to environmentally relevant doses of starch-based microplastics over three months; report wide range of impacts, including disputed lipid metabolism, higher blood glucose,…

NGOs conduct largest citizen survey on waste in Switzerland; 11,586 people report disposing of 215,463 pieces of plastic in one week; 83% is food or beverage packaging; consumers raise concern…

Scientists assess 30 legacy and emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in serum samples of 630 adults living in Switzerland; find legacy PFAS to be predominant while emerging ones are…

Review from the Nordic Council of Ministers assesses use of non-target screening (NTS) or suspect screening (SS) to identify chemicals relevant for regulatory action; evaluates 38 relevant documents…

The Competent Authorities for REACH and CLP (CARACAL) presented their plans for a revision of the REACH regulation; receives heavy criticism from industry and civil society; still under development…

This Review summarizes the current knowledge on sources, types and health effects of synthetic chemical contaminants in foods, particularly ultra-processed foods, and discusses regulatory shortcomings...

Scientists from the Food Packaging Forum, INSERM, New York University and ETH Zurich publish article in Nature Medicine outlining health impacts of exposure to synthetic chemicals in food with a…

During April plenary, European Parliament voted for ‘one substance, one assessment’ package; aims to increase cooperation and reallocate tasks across European agencies involved in chemical…

Consumer survey by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) shows that 68% and 16 % are very or medium concerned about “microplastics in food; “plastics” were rated as the second…

YouTube video by Ocean Plastics Leadership Network - OPLN

Scientists perform targeted and non-targeted chemical screening of 33 bio-based dishes; report melamine presence in majority of tested bamboo tableware; migration partly exceeds EU’s legal limit;…

YouTube video by Ocean Plastics Leadership Network - OPLN

Government of Canada releases final State of Per- and Polyfluroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report examining PFAS as a class; concludes that PFAS are toxic; proposes phased risk management approach to…

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is mandated by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) that entered into force on February 11, 2025, to carry out study identifying chemicals of…

Study investigates organophosphates, phthalates and other plasticizers in 52 ultra-processed plant-based foods; finds these chemicals in higher levels than in comparable animal-based foods;…