EU Intends to Regulate BPA from Vanishes and Coatings of Plastic Food Contact Materials

On 14 March 2016, EU notified World Trade Organization (WTO) of Circular G/TBT/N/EU/370 to publish a draft Commission Regulation proposing to amend Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 for plastic food contact materials. The amendment targets at regulating the use of bisphenol A (“BPA”). 

The draft regulation lowers the specific migration limit (SML) for BPA (0,05mg/kg) from plastic food contact materials in line with the EFSA opinion published in January 2015. It therefore amends Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. In addition, it applies the same SML to BPA from a varnish or coating applied to materials and articles. The notified draft also sets out the criteria for verification of compliance concerning varnishes and coatings, as well as laying down the requirements for the written declaration of compliance (DoC) for varnished or coated materials and articles.