PLASTICS AND HEALTH
PlasticsEurope “concerned” about unilateral bans on BPA / Calls on EU member states to respect existing food contact regulations
The Polycarbonate/Bisphenol A group within PlasticsEurope (Brussels / Belgium; www.plasticseurope.com) has expressed concern about unilateral decisions to ban BPA and has called on the EU authorities to ensure member states respect the existing legal regime regarding materials in contact with food. The announcement comes in the wake of several EU members’ having passed bans or restrictions on the chemical, including France (Plasteurope.com of 15.10.2012), Belgium (Plasteurope.com of 07.02.2012) and Sweden (Plasteurope.com of 26.04.2012). Whereas the French ban applies to all food contact applications, those in Belgium and Sweden are limited to food packaging for children under three years of age.
PlasticsEurope said the measures were taken regardless of sound scientific assessments that have confirmed the safety of BPA in food-contact applications, including for infants and children. Rather than improve consumer safety, the plastics industry producers’ association said such moves in fact cause more harm since there are no adequate alternative substances or materials available whose usage has been scientifically proven over a long period of time.
Aside from consumer safety concerns, the PlasticsEurope working group also said such unilateral moves disrupt the internal European market and weaken the Union’s food safety regulation system, creating “a situation of severe uncertainty for the whole good safety chain across Europe – and for consumers alike.” Measures such as these disturb the single European market since they create obstacles to the movement of goods.
Rather than embark on individual campaigns, EU member states should respect the existing food contact regime and delay any potential action on BPA until May 2013, when the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, Brussels / Belgium; www.efsa.europa.eu) is due to reassess the chemical. Regardless of what the authority will decide, PlasticsEurope cautions that alternatives to BPA should only be proposed once they have been safety-tested, evaluated and approved using both reliable and sustainable criteria.
PlasticsEurope said the measures were taken regardless of sound scientific assessments that have confirmed the safety of BPA in food-contact applications, including for infants and children. Rather than improve consumer safety, the plastics industry producers’ association said such moves in fact cause more harm since there are no adequate alternative substances or materials available whose usage has been scientifically proven over a long period of time.
Aside from consumer safety concerns, the PlasticsEurope working group also said such unilateral moves disrupt the internal European market and weaken the Union’s food safety regulation system, creating “a situation of severe uncertainty for the whole good safety chain across Europe – and for consumers alike.” Measures such as these disturb the single European market since they create obstacles to the movement of goods.
Rather than embark on individual campaigns, EU member states should respect the existing food contact regime and delay any potential action on BPA until May 2013, when the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, Brussels / Belgium; www.efsa.europa.eu) is due to reassess the chemical. Regardless of what the authority will decide, PlasticsEurope cautions that alternatives to BPA should only be proposed once they have been safety-tested, evaluated and approved using both reliable and sustainable criteria.
22.11.2012 Plasteurope.com [223912-0]
Published on 22.11.2012
German version of this article...