Update on bisphenol A
EFSA is aware of the draft U.S. NTP (National Toxicology Program) brief on bisphenol A and the Environment Canada draft screening assessment report and the Risk Management scope document. EFSA is also aware that Health Canada will be publishing in the near future a health risk assessment A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation of bisphenol A from food packaging applications.
EFSA published its risk assessment on bisphenol A in January 2007 and set a Tolerable Daily Intake The amount of a substance (e.g. nutrient or chemical) that is ingested by a person or animal via the diet ( TDI The tolerable daily intake (TDI) is an estimate of the amount of a substance in food or drinking water which is not added deliberately (e.g contaminants) and which can be consumed over a lifetime without presenting an appreciable risk to health. ) of 0.05 milligram/kg body weight for this substance.
EFSA is examining all relevant information related to the U.S. and Canadian reports as we do when new scientific information becomes available. Following this review, EFSA will assess whether further consideration of its advice on the safety levels for bisphenol A is required and will provide an update on the outcome of its work. EFSA also stands ready to provide any further advice to the European Commission on this issue.
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