Bisphenol A: toward a EU-wide ban?

BPA is a chemical building block that is used primarily to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins of food cans. Some recent studies have linked the chemical to several serious health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and birth disorders. The chemical industry has said scientific evidence shows BPA poses no threat to human health. Only a few months ago, it seemed the storm of apprehension surrounding BPA was a North American phenomenon, with Canada and some US states introducing bans on the substance used in polycarbonate bottles and epoxy food can linings. Now, consumer hostility and scientific concern over its safety are mounting also in Europe. In March 2010, Denmark became the first European country to outlaw the chemical in packaging for children age 0-3. This week it is the turn of France. A ban on manufacturing, importing, exporting and selling baby bottles made of BPA-based products has just been approved in France by the National Assembly this week. Only last month, the French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA) recommended that consumers should be alerted to the presence of bisphenol A in packaging via “systematic labelling”. By boiling down to a “warning labelling” this measure is strongly opposed by the industry.

The continued safe use of BPA in food packaging is currently being scrutinised by both the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Although the US FDA does not believe the substance is unsafe for use in food packaging, it expressed, last January, “some concern about the potential effects of BPA on the brain, behaviour and prostate gland in foetuses and young children”. This opionion has also drawn the attention of the US EPA.

EFSA, in its original 2006 opinion, established a full Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 0.05 mg BPA/kg body weight. This was confirmed in a second opinion adopted in July 2008. Yet, after a request from the European Commission last October to evaluate a new study on possible neuro-developmental effects of BPA(so called Stump study), EFSA is currently considering whether it is necessary to update the existing TDI.

Today, the EFSA (food contacts) panel in charge of the scientific opinion has announced a delay in delivering its opinion because it needs some extra time to consider hundreds of studies in its review and analyse the most recent scientific research. This will inevitably postpone the Commission decision on whether to impose a Europe-wide ban on BPA or not. EFSA is - once more - under the spotlight!