The Vireo Advisors blog brings you the latest news and developments in safe, sustainable and bio-based materials and products including novel foods and sustainable nanomaterials.
Amid PFAS Phase-Out in MA, Graphene Emerges as a Potential Alternative
In August 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed An Act relative to the reduction of certain toxic chemicals in firefighter personal protective equipment, which requires manufacturers and sellers, by January 1, 2025, to notify buyers of firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) if and why the equipment contains poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS; Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2024). By January 1, 2027, manufacturers and sellers must end all sales of firefighting PPE with intentionally added PFAS.
Brazil Closer to a National Inventory of Chemical Substances
In Brazil, a proposed bill (PL 6120/2019) moved forward in April 2024 that would establish a National Inventory of Chemical Substances, similar to that established by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation (Lisam Systems 2024).
EFSA Statement on the use of Whole Genome Sequence Analysis of Micro-Organisms for Use in Food
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released an updated
.
US NIOSH reports on explosivity of carbonaceous nanomaterials
A recent post by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) details work over the last decade by scientists at the NIOSH Nanotechnology Research Center (NTRC) studying the explosion hazard of nanocarbons, nanocellulose, and nanometals to fill data gaps on the explosivity of nanomaterials.
EFSA Scientific Opinion on Micro-Organism Biotechnology Developments
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) published a scientific opinion on
‘New developments in biotechnology applied to microorganisms’
used in food and feed, reviewing the adequacy of current EFSA risk assessment guidance.