The European Union will ban the use of BPA in food contact materials - Agency Procurement and Testing Ingredients

On 12 June 2024, EU member states adopted A ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food contact materials (FCM), a decision based on a scientific assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). The review concluded that BPA has “potentially harmful effects on the immune system” and determined the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of BPA to be 0.2 ng/kg bodyweight/day.

The ban was finalized on July 30, 2024 and issued at a later date, and is expected to enter into force possibly by the end of 2024.

The main contents of the ban are:

1. This REGULATION will replace COMMISSION Regulation (EU) 2018/213

2. food contact adhesives, rubber, ion exchange resins, plastics, printing inks, silicone, varnishes and coatings, the use of bisphenol A, other bisphenol substances and bisphenol derivatives are prohibited

3. The detection limit of bisphenol A migration is required to be 1ug/kg (0.001mg/kg).

4. Transition Period

·A transition period of 18 months for food contact materials and products (including single-use and re-use);

·A transitional period of 36 months for disposable food contact materials and articles for the preservation of fruits and vegetables, processed fish, metallic disposable food contact materials and articles with varnished or coated outer surfaces, and reusable food production equipment component articles.

5. a joint list of bisphenol A and other hazardous bisphenol and hazardous bisphenol derivatives, authorizing the manufacture of food-contact materials and articles for specific applications

FOM No.	CAS No.	Substance Name	Material Type	Use	Demand
151	80-05-7	4,4′- isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A)	Varnish and coating	Monomers or starting materials for the manufacture of liquid epoxy resins for self-contained food contact materials or articles with a capacity greater than 1000 litres	Migratory amounts should not be detectable, and items that end up in contact with food should be washed and rinsed prior to first contact with food
151	80-05-7	4,4′- isopropylidenediphenol (bisphenol A)	Plastic	Used to manufacture monomer or starting material in the manufacture of polysulfone filter membrane components	Migratory amounts should not be detectable, and items that end up in contact with food should be washed and rinsed prior to first contact with food

6. The Declaration of conformity shall include the following information:

· The identity and address of the operator, including telephone number and email address;

· The identity and address of the operator who manufactured or imported the material or article, including telephone number and email address;

· Characteristics of intermediate or final food contact materials;

· Date of declaration;

· A list of bisphenol or bisphenol derivatives used in the manufacture of food contact materials or products;

· Confirm that intermediate and final food contact materials comply with the provisions of this Regulation and Articles 3, 15 and 17 of (EC) No 1935/2004.

How to comply

· Manufacturers should promptly adjust production formulations and processes to avoid the use of bisphenol A and its unauthorized analogues.

· When purchasing relevant food contact materials, the user should focus on whether the product is intentionally added with bisphenol A and its unauthorized analogues for production, and make product and conformity declaration.

· Merieux Testing has many years of experience in the testing of food contact materials and provides you with packaging related testing services, including: