The European Union regulation banning the use of bisphenol A in materials that come into contact with food officially took effect on 20 January, in an attempt to minimise exposure to the harmful endocrine disruptor.
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00:00Bisphenol A is now fully banned from coming into contact with food products. As of Monday,
00:13the European Union has prohibited the use of this endocrine disruptor in food containers.
00:19This chemical, commonly found in cans, food storage containers and water bottles, can
00:24contaminate food products.
00:34Bisphenol A has been listed as a substance of very high concern under REACH, the EU flagship
00:43chemical legislation, since 2006 for its properties as toxic for reproduction and for its endocrine
00:50disrupting properties for human health since 2017. So these are the main concerns about
00:58Bisphenol A. And Bisphenol A is associated to health concerns such as breast cancer,
01:06neuro-barotrauma disorders and diabetes.
01:10The European Union is a pioneer in banning bisphenols. However, this prohibition is the
01:15result of a long scientific and political process considered too lengthy by NGOs.
01:22It has been a long-awaited decision. Scientists have been calling for the ban of bisphenols
01:28for more than a decade. There's been a report on bisphenol and the concern about bisphenols
01:33from the European Environment Agency more than a decade ago. So it's been a long process
01:41and we're hoping now that the follow-up decisions and steps for the use of bisphenols in other
01:47consumer products will come quickly.
01:51The NGO hopes the European Union will agree to broaden the ban on Bisphenol A, with the
01:56next potential target being children's toys.