EFSA last conducted measurements and calculations on the exposure of the European population to BPA in 2015. This exposure exceeded the current guidance value. However, this information is outdated, as the European Commission has taken many measures to reduce exposure since that time. Despite the fact that exposure levels are currently lower than they were in 2015, RIVM does expect exposure to still exceed the guidance value. This is why RIVM is recommending that exposure to BPA to be reduced where possible. This can be achieved by banning BPA and replacing it with safe alternatives where necessary or by ensuring that less BPA leaches from products.
Rules for BPA use in products intended for children
A number of European measures have been implemented to reduce the level of exposure to BPA. Previously, the use of plastic pacifiers and bottles accounted for a large percentage of BPA exposure for infants and young children. Since 2011, the use of BPA in packaging materials and bottles used for infant nutrition has been banned. There are also stricter rules in place for its use in chew toys for children under the age of 3.
More stringent standards for BPA use in cash register receipts and food contact materials
The European Commission has requested an opinion from the Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) regarding the protection of workers against the risks of the use of BPA, on which basis a more stringent standard for workers may be introduced.
BPA use in cash register receipts is already limited, as a result of which retail staff are exposed to negligible levels of BPA via the skin these days. BPA is also used in food contact materials. To reduce exposure, a European regulation banning BPA in food contact materials entered into force on 20 January 2025. The regulation specifies that this ban will come into effect after 18 months (see Article 11). A longer transition period of three years applies for packaging used for fish, fruit and vegetables (except fruit juices), as well as for coatings applied to the exterior of metal packaging. Food producers may still fill packaging of this kind with food and sell it to retailers during the 12 months following the expiry of the applicable transition period. The resulting packaged food may be placed on the market until exhaustion of stocks. This means that food contact materials may still contain BPA for a number of years.