EU bans BPA in food‑contact packaging, new rules start July 20

From 20 July, all retail stores across the European Union must stop selling new food‑contact packaging that contains bisphenol A (BPA). The ban, adopted by the European Commission on 1 January 2025 after an EFSA safety assessment, covers cans, juice and beer cartons, plastic bottles, single‑use dishes and other single‑use plastic items. Products already on shelves or in warehouses may continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted.

The regulation does not apply to protective inner coatings of large industrial tanks or polysulfone membranes used for clarifying juices or removing alcohol from beer and wine. Certain food cans (fruit, vegetable, fish) are exempt until 2028. The measure aims to reduce BPA’s endocrine‑disrupting effects, which have been linked to hormonal disturbances, cardiovascular and cancer risks, oxidative stress and kidney problems.