February 18, 2010

In an update issued in January 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it is raising its level of concern over the safety of bisphenol A (BPA), an industrial chemical that is sometimes present in hard plastic bottles and metal-based food and beverage cans.  In cooperation with the National Toxicology Program, FDA's National Center for Toxicological Research is carrying out in-depth studies to answer key questions and clarify uncertainties about the risks of BPA.  In the interim, the FDA says it will do the following:   

• Support studies by both governmental and non-governmental entities, to provide additional information and address uncertainties about BPA safety.
• Seek further public comment and external input on the science surrounding BPA. A public docket for comment will be opened for this purpose.
• Support recommendations from the Department of Health and Human Services for infant feeding and food preparation to reduce exposure to BPA.
• Support a shift to a more robust regulatory framework for oversight of BPA.
• Encourage manufacturers to voluntarily submit a food contact notification for their currently marketed uses of BPA-containing materials.
• Continue to participate in discussions with its international regulatory and public health counterparts who have also been engaged in assessing the safety of BPA.
• Provide further updates on BPA to the public as significant new information becomes available.
• Take reasonable steps to reduce human exposure to BPA in the food supply, including: 
• supporting the industry's actions to stop producing BPA-containing baby bottles and infant feeding cups for the U.S. market;
• facilitating the development of alternatives to BPA for the linings of infant formula cans; and
• supporting efforts to replace BPA or minimize BPA levels in other food can linings.

At this time, the FDA is not recommending that families change their use of infant formula or foods, as the benefit of a stable source of good nutrition outweighs the potential risk from BPA exposure. 

The FDA is planning to support and participate in an upcoming Expert Consultation on BPA to be convened by the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This event is tentatively scheduled to take place in Canada in October 2010.

Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued a press release to announce that it is inviting national experts from the European Union Member States to a meeting to discuss its ongoing scientific work with regard to BPA. At the meeting, EFSA will outline its draft opinion on BPA, which is currently being prepared by EFSA's scientific panel on food contact materials, prior to its expected adoption in May 2010. This meeting is tentatively scheduled to take place by early April.