19 XII 2024 - European Commission adopts 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 polycarbonate for all food packaging, including the 5-gallon bottles usually used in the HOD industry. 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

There will be an 18 month phase-out period.

The EU had already taken measures against BPA in the past: in 2011, its use in polycarbonate 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.

HODMETER marketed its first alternative to PC bottles in PET in 2012 to comply with the France ban.