France’s Ministry of Economy and Finance notified the European Commission of the draft decree requiring bisphenol A (BPA) labeling on food packaging intended for pregnant women and children under the age of three. The national law was adopted on December 13, 2012 by the French Senate. The requirement to label BPA containing food contact products intended for pregnant women and children will come into force in October 2013. By January 2015 BPA shall be banned from all food contact materials (previously reported on by the FPF).
As the new law exceeds European law in strictness, the European Commission will have to judge whether the danger to human health arising from BPA justifies the French advance. The European Commission will be advised on this matter by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) whose scientific opinion on BPA is scheduled for adoption by November 2013. EFSA is expected to open its scientific draft opinion for public consultation in July 2013.
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EFSA press release (March 26, 2013)
