Bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products

Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in many consumer products and can be found at very low (trace) levels in the environment. The most common form of plastic that uses BPA is polycarbonate. BPA is also used in epoxy resin coatings used on the inside of most food and beverage cans.

Nearly everyone experiences minimal levels of exposure to the BPA, and minute traces of BPA can leach into food from the protective internal epoxy resin coatings on:

• food cans
• polycarbonate tableware
• food storage containers
• water bottles
• baby bottles.

The weight of scientific evidence currently available indicates that BPA in plastics does not present a risk to human health.  There are is no mandatory standard or ban for consumer products containing BPA.

Regulators

Due to the broad use of BPA, several regulators (including the ACCC) are involved in assessing and monitoring BPA. Other regulators involved include:

• Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)—food, beverages and packaging
• The Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)—agricultural and veterinary medicines and swimming and spa pool sanitisers
• The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)—therapeutic goods and medicines
• The National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS)—industrial chemicals used in manufacturing, products, building and construction and for chemicals in cosmetics.

Further information

For more detailed information please follow the link to the article on Bisphenol A (BPA) in consumer products.