19 XII 2024 - European Commission adopts the ban of Bisphenol A in food contact materials

After a draft last February 2024 and the last November 2023 European Parliament vote, the Commission confirmed the ban of bisphenol A for all food packaging. This decision includes the 5-gallon polycarbonate bottles as polycarbonate bottles contain bisphenol A (as it is made of bisphenol A). This is based on Regulation EU 2024/3190, which is set to come into force on 20 January 2025. Reference: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety-news-0/commission-adopts-ban-bisphenol-food-contact-materials-2024-12-19_en

The EU had already taken measures against BPA in the past: in 2011, its use in baby bottles was banned, followed by a ban on thermal paper in 2016 and further restrictions on drinking bottles and containers for babies and children, paints and coatings in 2018.

EFSA website summaries this case on this page available in 24 languages.

BPA and its polycarbonate related derivative are toxic to humans. HODMETER marketed its first alternative to polycarbonate bottles in 2012.