The European Commission is considering banning the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food and drink packaging, following concerns over its “migrating” into food and drinks.
According to findings from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), there is a “concern for human health” due to the presence of BPA in so-called food contact materials (FCMs).
BPA is commonly used in polycarbonate plastics in products such as water bottles and food can coatings. The aim of the proposed ban is to “impose a ban on the use of BPA in food contact materials (FCMs), including plastic and coated packaging” in order to protect human health. The ban will also aim to prevent the use of other harmful substances as replacements.
The European Commission stated that exemptions and relaxations from the law and potential transitional periods for businesses will be considered during the implementation of the ban.
The proposed ban comes after the European Environment Agency (EEA) released a report last September, highlighting that BPA is present in almost all Europeans’ bodies, posing a health risk. The agency found that BPA exposure was “well above acceptable health safety levels” and called for more action at the EU level to limit exposure to harmful chemicals.
The four-week consultation, open until 8 March, is an opportunity for stakeholders to provide feedback on the potential ban. Industry body FoodDrinkEurope has indicated that food and drink manufacturers are committed to complying with any new regulations but urged for “proportionate” and realistic measures.
In the meantime, the ban aims to address concerns about the risk of BPA exposure and to ensure the safety of food and beverage packaging materials.
