EFSA Announces Follow-Up Meeting on BPA

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced an April 23,
2014, scientific meeting to discuss its draft opinion on the human health
risks of bisphenol A (BPA) for consumers. Developed by the EFSA Panel on
Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF), the
draft opinion also includes a re-evaluation of the tolerable daily intake for
BPA, which the agency temporarily recommended lowering from 50 μg/kg
bw/day to 5 μg/kg bw/day over concerns that exposure to the substance is
likely to pose health risks. Additional details about EFSA’s draft assessment of
consumer exposure to BPA appear in Issue 511 of this Update.

The meeting seeks to discuss comments received during the draft opinion’s
consultation period, which ends March 13. Before adopting its final opinion
the CEF Panel will take into account these comments and meeting discussions,
as well as issue a separate report that outlines these proceedings. EFSA
has asked “scientific experts in the field of food safety and interested parties
who have contributed to the public consultation” to register for the conference
by March 14.

Issue 515