Non-food legislation – June 2023

Hazardous substances – Rules and regulations
Australia: The government has agreed (168 kB) on a new packaging regulatory scheme. This scheme will regulate out harmful chemicals and other contaminants in packaging.
Canada: The government has published a draft report concluding that all substances in the class of PFAS have the potential to cause harm to both the environment and human health.
EU: ECHA has added two chemicals to the Candidate List of substances of very high concern (SVHCs). The list now contains 235 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment.
ECHA has also announced a new release of the IUCLID software. The update reflects the amended information requirements for registering chemicals under REACH.
Philippines: The EcoWaste Coalition is calling on the government to add PFAS in the Priority Chemicals List.
US: The EPA has proposed amending its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) new chemicals regulations. The proposal removes low volume and exposure exemptions for new PFAS and other persistent chemicals.
The FDA has published an update on PFAS activities.
The Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) has published Draft PFAS Prevention Model Legislation (261 kB).
California: OEHHA has announced they will not proceed at this time with the Proposition 65 listing of antimony (trivalent compounds). Prop 65 is a right-to-know law that requires individuals to receive a clear and reasonable warning before being exposed to certain chemicals.

Pharmaceutical rules and regulations
The EP has published a briefing (410 kB) on the proposed revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislation. The feedback period on the proposal is still open.

Research
Chronic exposure to low levels of lead, cadmium and arsenic is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, according to a new scientific statement (2.69 MB) by the American Heart Association.
A new report (6.85 MB) from Greenpeace USA based on scientific research and international studies shows that the toxicity of plastic actually increases with recycling. The report highlights the threat that recycled plastics to human health.
In a study (2.96 MB) pushed in Obesity, SDU researchers show that PFAS exposure is associated with body weight increase. In another study (1.55 MB) published in Environmental Health, SDU researchers show that the EU exposure limits for PFAS are still too high.
Research conducted at MedUni Vienna has shown how micro- and nanoplastic particles manage to breach the blood-brain barrier and as a consequence penetrate the brain. The study (1.95 MB) is published in Nanomaterials.
 

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