Bisphenol A (BPA) is a constituent in epoxy coatings used as liners for food and beverage cans and some metal closures. While BPA has been used safely for 50 years or so, it has recently come under fire as a possible endocrine disruptor. A handful of municipalities and states are considering bans/restrictions on the use of BPA in packaging.
Recent reports suggesting that Canada had – or was about to – ban or restrict the use of BPA in packaging, prompted us to seek clarification from the Packaging Association (PAC) in Canada.
Ben Miyares
Packaging Management Institute
“An Alliance of Sustainable Packaging Interests”
In response to my inquiries, Jim Downham, President/CEO of PAC, sent the following response:
Ben,
This is what Larry Dworkin, PAC Director of Government Affairs, has to say about BPA.
“While Environment Canada has added bisphenol A (BPA) to its toxic register, so far, Health Canada has not followed suit. As of Aug. 26, Health Canada has only issued a BPA warning with respect to exposure from food packaging applications to infants and newborns, specifically from pre-packaged infant formula products.
Health Canada is hosting a meeting Nov. 2-5 with representatives of the World Health Organization, U.S. FDA to review toxicological and health aspects about BPA. To date, based on studies from the U.S., European Union and Japan, Health Canada’s Food Directorate has concluded that the current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging is not expected to pose a health risk to the general population, including newborn infants.”
Let me know if we can be of any further service.
Leave Your Response