EU’s BPA food packaging ban takes effect July 2026 with 2028 extension for acidic canned goods

EUROPE – The European Union has banned the sale of food packaging containing Bisphenol A from July 2026, extending restrictions beyond baby bottles and thermal paper to include plastic bottles, lunch boxes, kitchen utensils, printing inks and adhesives, with a transition period until 2028 for acidic canned foods where alternatives remain unavailable.

The ban, enacted under Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, applies to seven categories of food contact materials: adhesives, rubbers, ion-exchange resins, plastics, printing inks, silicones, and varnishes and coatings. 

Bisphenol A, a synthetic chemical used in polycarbonate production and epoxy resins, is commonly found as inner coatings in food and drink cans to prevent metal corrosion, as well as in plastic films, printing inks and adhesives. 

How EFSA’s 20,000x TDI Reduction and Health Risk Findings Drove the Ban

The European Food Safety Authority established a new tolerable daily intake of just 0.2 nanograms per kilogram of body weight in 2023, a staggering 20,000 times lower than the previous safety threshold set in 2015. 

EFSA concluded that BPA poses a health concern for all age groups, with evidence showing it may alter immune system mechanisms potentially triggering asthma and autoimmune conditions. 

BPA is an endocrine disruptor that can mimic estrogen, potentially impairing male and female fertility, altering puberty onset, and increasing risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and certain cancers. 

Current dietary BPA exposure exceeds the new safety threshold by two to three orders of magnitude across all age groups.

What 2028 Extension and 410,000 Tonnes Annual German Sales Mean for Packaging Industry

A transition period lasting until 20 July 2028 applies to single-use food contact articles using varnishes and coatings manufactured with BPA, particularly packaging for preserving fruits, vegetables and processed fish products where acidic contents require BPA-based internal coatings to prevent metal corrosion. 

An average 410,000 metric tonnes of BPA-containing products are sold in Germany annually, according to environmental organisation BUND. 

BASF has proactively reformulated its glass-fibre-reinforced Ultradur portfolio to eliminate BPA, launching dedicated food-contact grades with valid certifications ahead of the July 2026 deadline. 

AkzoNobel reports that while regions with firm regulatory timelines are advancing fastest, multinational brands are aligning with the EU’s strictest standards even in markets without immediate regulatory pressure. 

Existing compliant packaging may be filled and sealed for 12 months after transition deadlines, with resulting packaged foods sold until stock depletion to prevent food waste.

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