EU formally adopts ban on bisphenol A in food contact materials
On December 19, 2024, the European Commission formally adopted a regulation banning the use of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenol substances that are harmful to the reproductive and endocrine systems in food contact materials.
Bisphenol A is a common chemical raw material, widely used in the production of plastic products, resins, coatings, paints and thermal paper, etc., and is often used to manufacture food contact materials such as plastic tableware containers and canned inner wall coatings. However, with the continuous deepening of research on the toxicological properties and health risks of bisphenol A, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has repeatedly lowered the daily tolerable intake (TDI) of bisphenol A. In April 2023, the opinion issued by EFSA lowered the daily tolerable intake to only 0.2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight based on "potential harmful effects on the immune system", and concluded that the current level of exposure to bisphenol A poses a risk to consumers of all age groups.
The ban means that bisphenol A will be completely banned from use in food contact materials and products in the EU, including coatings on metal cans and kitchenware, reusable plastic beverage bottles, adhesives, etc. To facilitate industry adaptation, the regulations set an 18-month transition period for finished products, and in rare special cases where there are no alternatives, limited exemptions will be given to allow the industry time to adapt and avoid disruptions in the food supply chain.
The EU's control policy on bisphenol A in food contact materials has undergone a gradual tightening process. In 2007, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its first risk assessment of BPA. In January 2011, the EU banned the use of bisphenol A in the production of polycarbonate baby bottles; in September 2018, it banned the use of bisphenol A in plastic bottles and packaging used for food for infants and children under three years old, set stricter limits on bisphenol A in plastic food contact materials, and extended these restrictions to coating materials; in January 2020, according to the REACH regulation, bisphenol A was banned in thermal paper receipts; in July 2023, the European Commission proposed a comprehensive ban on the use of bisphenol A in food contact materials; in February 2024, the European Commission issued a draft regulation banning the use of bisphenol A in food contact materials and articles; in June 2024, EU member states agreed to the bisphenol A ban; by December 19, 2024, the Commission formally adopted the ban.
Oliver Várhelyi, the EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare, said: "Maintaining high standards of food safety in the EU to protect citizens is one of the Commission's most important priorities. This ban, based on scientific advice, will protect our consumers from harmful chemicals they may be exposed to in food and beverages."
All food contact material manufacturers involved in the export business to Europe should actively adjust and handle the inventory of products containing bisphenol A. At the same time, for newly produced or sold products, the latest regulatory requirements must be followed to ensure product compliance.
