HEALTH : EFSA PROPOSES TO LOWER TOLERABLE DAILY INTAKE FOR BISPHENOL A.

• Position: European Food Safety Authority - Brief article

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is proposing to lower the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of bisphenol A (BPA). In a draft risk assessment, published on 17 January, ESFA proposes to lower the current level of 50 [micro]g/kg body weight/day (or 0.05m/kg/bw/day) to 5 [micro]g/kg/bw/day (0.005/mg/kg/bw/day). It also proposes that this TDI - the estimated quantity that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without posing any significant health risks - be established on a provisional basis due to "uncertainties that remain on the potential health risks of this substance".

BPA is a chemical compound used in food contact materials, such as packaging and other consumer products. Following concerns expressed by the scientific community, the EU decided to ban bibs containing this chemical substance on EU territory. ESFA also launched a full re-evaluation of the global risks that was divided into two phases: the first part...