UN agencies to hold bisphenol A safety summit

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said the meeting, to be held in Canada in October 2010, was being organised in response to the general uncertainty over the safety of BPA. They pin-pointed the misgivings over a raft of possible adverse human health effects from the chemical on reproduction, the nervous system and on behavioural development, as well as the relatively higher exposure of very young children compared with adults.

Controversy​

The agencies added the large body of research highlighting the toxicity and endocrine activity of BPA in animals and the discrepancies of study findings relating to the nature of the effects observed and the levels at which they occur were also major drivers behind calling for the gathering of experts.

“It is notable that the effects in some of the research studies were described at dose levels several orders of magnitude below those at which effects were reported in the standard guideline (regulatory) studies following OECD test guidelines​,” said the WHO.

The UN health body said the controversy raging among the scientific community had led to “different risk management decisions taken by national authorities”.​

It has issued a plea for the submission of data on BPA in food and its possible effects, and called for experts to apply to attend the ad hoc assembly. The WHO said it hoped the meeting would develop guidance for food safety regulators internationally on the potential risks associated with the BPA in food packaging materials, outline a risk assessment strategy and identify any current knowledge gaps.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, also used in food contact materials, leading to potential consumer exposure through food.

Canada​

Health Canada has welcomed the chance to support the meeting in Ottawa, with health minister Leona Aglukkaq saying it demonstrated the country’s continued leadership on the issue. The body said it would be submitting data from a Government research programme on BPA carried out last year.

It reaffirmed its position to reduce exposure to BPA for infants and young children to levels as low as "reasonably achievable"​. As part of this work, the department has asked for a progress report from the food packaging industry on measures to reduce cut BPA levels in infant formula products.

The WHO/FAO announcement is sure to be welcomed by opponents of BPA. It comes amid the continuing delay of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to publish its own review on the safety of the chemical. The FDA has faced criticism for the hold-up after failing to meet its own 30 November deadline with calls for a decision as soon as possible to end consumer and industry uncertainty.