UK to Ban BPA in Food Packaging

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is currently soliciting comments on a proposal to ban the use of Bisphenol A (BPA), along with other bisphenols and derivatives, in food contact materials (FCMs). All interested parties can give comments before December 24, 2025.

BPA's strength, durability, and heat resistance have made it a favored material in the food industry for decades. It’s widely used in the production of various FCMs, including coatings, varnishes, adhesives, and polycarbonate plastics. However, BPA also raises long-standing concerns about its potential health effects, particularly the impact on reproductive health and the immune system. This has led to ongoing scientific scrutiny and regulatory review. In recent years, several regulatory bodies, including the European Food Safety Authority, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, and the Swiss Federal Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Office, have imposed stricter regulations to prevent significant risks associated with BPA exposure.

The UK FSA has also evaluated the safety of BPA and confirmed concern about BPA’s effects on public health. Considering the available scientific evidence and to align with international regulatory developments, the UK FSA proposed to prohibit the use of BPA and its analogues in the manufacture of FCMs, such as:

• plastics (e.g., reusable containers and kitchenware),

• varnishes and coatings (e.g., in metal cans),

• adhesives,

• printing inks,

• rubber,

• silicones,

• ion exchange, and

• resins.

The proposed ban will apply to all newly manufactured FCMs containing BPA and its analogues. The UK FSA intends to adopt similar transitional periods set out in the EU regulation, with the same transition end date. This consultation is to seek views on the proposed ban and gather any robust, peer-reviewed evidence that may justify an alternative approach for BPA and its analogues.