Brussels, 02/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was given a mandate by the European Commission to reassess the possible public health risks of Bisphenol A (BPA) but has decided to postpone the publication of its new scientific opinion on this chemical substance (mainly used in the manufacture of plastics and resin) until November this year.
EFSA will take advantage of this new deadline to launch a public consultation on a draft opinion next July and to help it integrate all the different scientific projects currently being undertaken on the substance at a European and EU member state level.
The draft opinion by EFSA is prepared by the group working on materials that are in contact with food, enzymes, flavourings and auxiliary technology (the CEF group). The group's work focuses on issues related to the safety of materials that are in contact with food, enzymes, flavourings and auxiliary technologies, as well as on the safety of the proceedings adopted. BPA is already banned in the use of babies' milk bottles. The revaluation exercise will focus on BPA related dangers in diet and exposure to other sources. (AN/transl.fl)