In a press release on December 21, 2021, ClientEarth announced the Court of Justice of the EU decision that bisphenol A (BPA, CAS 80-05-7) must be listed as a substance of very high concern (SVHC) under REACH due to the chemical’s endocrine-disrupting properties for humans.
ECHA classifies a substance as an SVHC if it fulfills criteria for one or more of a set of hazard properties. BPA is classified as an SVHC due to being toxic for reproduction, having endocrine-disrupting properties for humans, and having endocrine-disrupting properties for wildlife (FPF reported, also here). Lobby organization PlasticsEurope took ECHA to court about the classification of BPA as an SVHC three times; once for each of ECHA’s conclusions. ECHA won every case (FPF reported). PlasticsEurope appealed the cases about endocrine-disrupting properties for humans and endocrine-disrupting properties for wildlife. While the court has decided again in favor of ECHA and ClientEarth on the first case, the final decision on the appeal of BPA’s effects on wildlife is still pending. The lobby group cannot again appeal the ruling that BPA is an SVHC due to human health effects.
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ClientEarth (December 21, 2021). “Court win: Game over for plastics lobby in BPA human health impacts case.”
Court of Justice of the European Union (December 21, 2021). “Judgement of the Court.”
