EU proposes new stricter SML for bisphenol A

Recently, the European Commission published a Draft Regulation on the use of bisphenol A in varnishes and coatings intended to come into contact with food and amending Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 as regards the use of that substance in plastic food contact materials. The European Commission has opened a comment period, feedback is open until 20 September. Varnished or coated materials and articles and plastic materials and articles that were lawfully placed on the market before may remain on the market until exhaustion of stocks.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from [6 months after entry into force of this Regulation]. The draft is summarized as follows:

1. Varnishes and Coatings

The migration into or onto food of BPA from varnishes or coatings applied to materials and articles shall not exceed a specific migration limit of 0,05 mg of BPA per kg of food (mg/kg). And no migration of BPA shall be permitted from varnishes or coatings applied to materials and articles specifically intended to come into contact with infant formula, follow-on formula, processed cereal-based food, baby food or food for special medical purposes developed to satisfy the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, as referred to in Regulation (EU) No 609/2013.

2.Plastic

In Table 1 of Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011, the entry concerning substance No. 151is replaced by the following:

In addition, the draft also introduced the requirement of a written declaration of conformity.

Updates for BPA are summarized as follows:

-l2016.12 The list of limited substances in Annex XVII to the REACH regulation added BPA, the BPA in heat-sensitive paper should not exceed 0.02%;

-2017.1 BPA is added to the SVHC list for its reproductive toxicity;

-2017.5 EU Toy Safety Directive revised BPA limit for use by children under 36 months or Toys that can be placed in the mouth, BPA Limited from 0.1mg/l tightened to 0 04mg/l;

-2017.7 SVHC list revise BPA hazard attribute again, add endocrine disturbance attribute.

CTT warm hint:

BPA is widely found in polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, epoxy phenolic resin, belonging to endocrine disruptors, with reproductive toxicity. In recent years, more and more regions have added or tightened demand for BPA, and the world's control over BPA has become stricter. CTT suggests that relevant enterprises should pay more attention to the relevant laws and regulations, take countermeasures as early as possible, ensure product quality and avoid unnecessary recalls or fines.