The European Commission launched a consultation on a draft proposal to phase out the use of the controversial chemical Bisphenol A in food contact materials, including plastic boxes, protective coatings for cans, and food processing equipment.
The proposal follows the scientific advice of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which concluded in April 2023 that the current levels of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) pose a health risk to consumers.
EFSA set a tolerable daily intake (TDI) – the amount of a substance in food deemed safe for people – at 0.2 nanograms per kilogram (ng/kg) of body weight, which is 20,000 times lower than the provisional TDI of 4 μg/kg (or 4,000 ng/kg) of body weight recommended in its previous opinion (2015).
The public consultation started on 8 February and is open until 9 March. The Commission will then present a legislative proposal for approval by member states.
Source: Euractiv, Angelo Di Mambro. Click here to read the full article
