EU prohibition on the use and trade of Bisphenol A from 20 January 2025
From 20 January 2025, Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 bans the use and trade of Bisphenol A (BPA), its salts and other hazardous bisphenols and hazardous bisphenol derivatives in food contact materials across the EU.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical substance mainly used in combination with other chemicals to manufacture certain food contact materials such as epoxy resins for coatings in metal food and drink cans, and durable plastics for reusable drinks bottles or food transport equipment.
This ban of BPA in food contact materials was proposed by the EU Commission and approved by EU Member States in July 2024, after a 2023 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) report that concluded that the current levels of BPA exposure posed a risk to consumers across all age groups since these substances are harmful to the reproductive and endocrine systems.
Products covered by the ban
The ban applies to the use of BPA in the manufacture of the following groups of food contact materials and articles:
- adhesives;
- rubbers;
- ion-exchange resins;
- plastics;
- printing inks;
- silicones; and
- varnishes and coatings
It affects packaging, such as the coating used on metal cans, and also the use of BPA in consumer articles, such as reusable plastic drink bottles, water distribution coolers or other kitchenware.
Exceptions to the prohibition
There are very limited exceptions to the prohibition for cases where there are no available safe alternatives, including its use to manufacture plastic filtration membranes necessary to ensure microbiological safety of certain foods where such use is not considered to pose a risk to consumers, but these will be kept under review.
Transitional provisions
Transitional provisions will apply to allow industry to adapt and avoid potential disruptions to the food chain:
- single and repeat-use final food contact articles complying with the rules applicable before the date of the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which do not comply with the new rules, shall be allowed to be placed on the Union market until 20 July 2026.
- single-use final food contact articles using varnishes and coatings manufactured with BPA, specifically for the packaging used to preserve fruit, vegetables and processed fish products, may continue to be marketed in the EU until 20 July 2028.
- single-use final food contact articles placed on the market in accordance with the former rules, may be filled with food and sealed during the 12 months following the expiry of the applicable transitional period and the resulting packaged food may be placed on the market until exhaustion of stocks.
- repeat-use final food contact articles used as professional food production equipment, complying with the rules applicable before the date of entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which do not comply with the new rules, may be first placed on the market until 20 January 2028.
- repeat-use final food contact articles that were first placed on the market in accordance with the former rules, may remain on the market until 20 January 2029 at the latest