On December 19, 2024, the European Commission adopted a ban on the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials, such as can coatings, reusable plastic drinking bottles, and kitchenware. The decision extends the existing restrictions on BPA, which is already prohibited in the European Union for use in infant feeding bottles due to its harmful effects on human health, including its potential to disrupt the endocrine system (FPF reported and here).
Additionally, the adopted ban also applies to other hazardous bisphenols and derivatives, referring to bisphenols and derivatives listed in Part 3 of Annex VI in Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008 that are classified as mutagenic, carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction, or endocrine disrupting. The decision aligns with the most recent scientific findings from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In 2023, EFSA significantly revised its assessment of BPA, lowering the tolerable daily intake (TDI) by a factor of 20,000 (FPF reported).
The regulation includes an 18-month phase-out period to allow industries time to adapt. A few exceptions exist where “there are no available safe alternatives.”
Reference
European Commission (December 31, 2024) “Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190.”
European Commission (December 19, 2024) “Commission adopts ban of Bisphenol A in food contact materials.”
