As EU member states, regional and local authorities prepare to implement the revised Ambient Air Quality Directive (AAQD), this briefing by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) argues that decision-makers and authorities should pay particular attention to addressing socio-economic inequalities in their clean air efforts. The swift transposition and implementation of the new rules, with strengthened administrative collaboration and the full utilisation of financial support schemes, promise significant progress towards cleaner air across Europe. Improved air quality will be beneficial to everyone and contribute to preventing health inequalities for those living in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas.
Today EU member states expert committee voted to ban some bisphenols, including bisphenol A (BPA), in food contact materials. This measure is much needed to protect people from these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), that have also been classified as toxic for reproduction. Exposure to Bisphenol A and other bisphenols is associated with breast cancer, infertility, early puberty, diabetes and obesity, and neurological disorders in children.
In Europe thousands of chemicals are used to produce and treat food contact materials. Bisphenols, which are used in the production of polymers and resins for plastic, are among them and are widely used for example as coatings in cans and cardboard packaging.
The restriction proposed by the European Commission would effectively ban the use of BPA, and other bisphenols that are carcinogenic, mutagenic, toxic to reproduction or endocrine disrupting, in both the manufacture and market access of most food contact materials containing them.
HEAL Health and Chemicals Programme Lead Sandra Jen states: “The decision by EU member states experts to support the restriction of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenols in most food packaging is a long-awaited step to reduce people’s exposure to these harmful chemicals. We now also need a group restriction on the use of bisphenols for all consumer products beyond food contact material to ensure these harmful chemicals will no longer negatively impact people’s health and the environment.”
Next, the European Parliament and the Council will assess the proposal. If there is no opposition, the ban could be adopted by the end of 2024, with some transition periods of up to three years for its effective implementation in the EU market.
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