Non-food legislation – May 2025
Hazardous substances - rules and regulations in the EU
FPF reports that CARACAL has presented their preliminary plan for the revision of the REACH Regulation to the member states. The proposed revision aims to streamline bureaucratic processes for both companies and authorities, modernise the regulatory framework and strengthen enforcement. You can access the documents shared during the meeting.
ECHA reports that the EC has adopted two amendments to Annex I of the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation. One of the amendments is the inclusion of UV-328 as a substance subject to certain restrictions.
A new analysis by EEA provides the latest knowledge about the potential impacts of PFAS polymers on health, the environment and climate. PFAS polymers currently make up 24-40% of the total volume of PFAS placed on the EU market.
NL: On 10 April 2025, a round table discussion (in Dutch) on PFAS took place in the Dutch House that you can rewatch here (in Dutch).
Hazardous substances - rules and regulations in countries outside the EU
New Zealand: SGS reports that the government has published legislation prohibiting the manufacture and use of UV-328 and two other POPs as of 14 March 2025.
UK: In a new inquiry, the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) will be considering whether enough is being done to understand fully the risks of PFAS. EAC will also examine the UK’s regulatory framework for the use and disposal of PFAS, and will be asking whether UK registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals is adequate.
US: EPA has published an interim final rule that extends the dates for TSCA PFAS reporting. Submissions are now due by 13 October 2026, for most manufacturers. Some small businesses have until 13 April 2027. EPA has outlined upcoming action to address PFAS in the form of a list of actions points. The list includes the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for certain PFAS to stop them from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected. EPA also announced that it will keep the current maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
Research
FPF reports on a study by researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Metrology that shows that PFAS are widely present across the adult Swiss population. The study (1.36 MB) is published in Environment International. University of Buffalo researchers have created a novel method for PFAS air emission detection. Described in a recent article (abstract) published in Analytica Chimica Acta, the method captures gaseous PFAS and enables their direct injection into an analytical instrument to precisely measure their concentration.
FPF reports on a review of studies that have used non-target screening or suspect screening to identify substances in articles, chemical products, and recycled materials made of plastic, wood, paper/paperboard and other substances. The review (3.85 MB) published by the Nordic Council of Ministers provides information as to whether currently available methods can efficiently identify relevant substances.
For her dissertation (6.63 MB) at Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Laetitia Bolte studied the migration of cosmetic components into plastic packaging material. Products containing emulsions can exhibit packaging deformations and oily residues on the outer surface over time. and the composition of the product can also be impaired.
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