Key Development

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has launched a 12-week consultation on its plan to ban Bisphenol A (BPA) and related chemicals from food packaging and processing materials. The consultation, open until 24 December 2025, invites industry, consumers, and stakeholders to provide feedback on the proposed ban and its implementation.

Cutting Long-Term Exposure to Harmful Chemicals

Manufacturers commonly use BPA in kitchenware, refillable bottles, and can linings. Even trace amounts that migrate into food or beverages can build up over time, raising health concerns. FSA Deputy Director of Food Policy Dr James Cooper said, “We have reviewed the latest science and evidence on BPA. We want to reduce exposure to minimise potential long-term risks to health, including effects on the endocrine, reproductive, and immune systems.”

Evidence and EU Action as Precedent

The FSA’s proposal follows a 2023 review by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food (COT), which flagged BPA and similar bisphenols as a health concern. The COT set a safe tolerable daily intake of 0.2 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. After the consultation closes, the FSA will review responses and advise ministers on future regulations. This initiative mirrors the European Commission, which banned BPA in all food contact materials in December 2024, including can coatings and reusable bottles, with an 18-month phase-out period.

Source: New Food Magazine