Switzerland Enacts BPA Ban in Food Contact Materials, But it Excludes Some Common Bisphenols
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Switzerland has banned bisphenol A (BPA) and other hazardous bisphenols in food contact materials, bringing its regulations into better alignment with those of the EU. The definition of “hazardous bisphenol” is not all-encompassing, however, leaving room for some potentially harmful bisphenols to remain in use.
Specifically, the Swiss Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) amended the Federal Department of Home Affairs' Ordinance on Materials and Articles Intended to Come Into Contact With Food so that hazardous BPA and bisphenol derivatives with a specific chemical structure may not be used in food packaging. Hazardous BPAs and derivatives include those which are carcinogenic, mutagenic, disruptive to the endocrine system, or toxic to the reproductive system.
These chemicals will no longer be allowed as coatings or varnishes on food contact materials, except for industrial containers larger than 1,000 liters (L). Migration of BPA into food from any container or packaging must not be detectable at or above 1 microgram (μg) BPA per kilogram of food.
However, according to the Food Packaging Forum, because FSVO’s definition is limited to structures where the phenol groups are connected by a single atom, the ban excludes commonly used substances like bisphenol M and bisphenol P. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is currently assessing bisphenol M as an endocrine disruptor.
The compliance date for the new regulations apply to the majority of goods by July 20, 2026. A full phase-out of BPA for specified uses is expected by January 20, 2029.
In December 2024, the EU adopted a ban on BPA and other derivatives in all food contact materials, allowing an 18-month phase-out period. Additionally, recognizing that a ban on BPA will lead to a rise in the use of alternative chemicals, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is investigating methods for assessing the risk of BPA alternatives.
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