{"id":11672,"date":"2023-06-06T13:41:40","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T18:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/?p=11672"},"modified":"2023-06-06T18:17:21","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T23:17:21","slug":"congress-members-call-for-fda-public-hearing-on-phthalates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/health\/2023\/06\/06\/congress-members-call-for-fda-public-hearing-on-phthalates\/","title":{"rendered":"Representatives Call For FDA Public Hearing on Phthalates"},"content":{"rendered":"

By. Joanna Slaney<\/a>, Senior Director, Federal Affairs, and Maricel Maffini<\/a>, PhD, Consultant<\/em><\/p>\n

\"U.S.<\/a>
Source: A. Paige Baker, ShutterSights.com\u00a9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What Happened?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

On May 19, Reps. Katie Porter, Steve Cohen, Nanette Diaz Barrag\u00e1n, Earl Blumenauer, and Ra\u00fal Grijalva issued a letter<\/a> [PDF, 300KB]<\/small><\/code> to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf calling on FDA to \u201cact expeditiously to protect the public from the health risks posed by phthalates in food and food packaging.\u201d<\/p>\n

They asked the FDA to hold a public hearing on ortho-phthalates (phthalates), chemicals associated with disruptions to the development of the male reproductive system<\/a> and neurodevelopment<\/a>, among other health effects.<\/p>\n

Why It Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In 2021, Reps. Porter and Lieu led a letter with 12 colleagues urging FDA to take action on phthalates<\/a> in food and cosmetics. That letter, in part, called on FDA to take action on a 2016 petition filed by EDF and allied environmental health organizations asking FDA to revoke its approval for all uses of phthalates in food packaging and processing equipment.<\/p>\n

In May 2022, after the petitioners sued<\/a>, FDA denied the petition<\/a>. The petitioners formally objected to the decision and requested a public hearing pursuant to FDA\u2019s regulations. The agency has not provided any timeline for acting on the objections.<\/p>\n

Request for a Public Hearing<\/h3>\n

The Representatives stated in the letter submitted last month that \u00a0FDA\u2019s decision denying the petition was flawed. \u201c[W]e are deeply concerned about the denial, which was made\u00a0without deciding whether the remaining approved uses of phthalates in food and food packaging are safe<\/em>.\u201d (Emphasis original)<\/p>\n

They reminded Commissioner Califf of his recent statement that chemical safety is a \u201creally, really important area for the future \u2013 for humankind, really \u2013 and where science is evolving rapidly,\u201d urging FDA to hold a public hearing on two areas of concern:<\/p>\n