In the News

BPA Not a Health Risk, Says Australian and New Zealand Regulators

Mar 24, 2009

Food regulators in Australia and New Zealand concluded that exposure levels of Bisphenol A (BPA) are very low and do not pose a significant health risk. In a BPA and Food Packaging Fact Sheet, published in March 2009, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), a bi-national government agency, reported that it reached that conclusion after conducting an assessment of the risk to infants from exposure to BPA.

In the fact sheet, FSANZ cited reports by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that concluded that BPA intake was within safe levels. (For more information on the reports, please see the PackagingLaw.com article: FDA, EFSA, and EC Reconfirm Safety of BPA.) FSANZ also stated in the fact sheet that it will determine if further action is required based on a continued review of reports from regulatory agencies and papers in peer-reviewed literature.

FSANZ is responsible for developing and administering the "Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code," which establishes requirements for foods such as additives, food safety, and labeling. The Code does not specify individual substances that may be used in food-contact packaging, or include specifications on how food-contact packaging materials should be produced or used. However, the Code does reference the Australian Standard for Plastic Materials for Food Contact Use (AS 2070-1999), which includes an industry guide on the production of plastic materials for food-contact use. The Australian Standard, AS 2070, refers to U.S. and European Union regulations and directives on the use of plastic food-contact materials.