UK - Home

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has opened a public consultation on a proposal to ban the use of bisphenol A (BPA), other bisphenols, and bisphenol derivatives in materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. The consultation is open until 24 December 2025.

Scope and Objective

The proposal aims to prohibit the use of BPA and related bisphenols in the manufacture of food contact materials and articles, including coatings, plastics, and packaging such as metal can linings and reusable bottles. The aim is to address potential health risks associated with bisphenols, particularly their endocrine-disrupting and immunotoxic effects, and to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

Regulatory Context

This initiative follows recent scientific evidence, including the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) 2023 opinion which significantly lowered the tolerable daily intake for BPA due to its potential adverse effects. The proposal also aligns with the European Union’s Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190, which bans BPA, its salts, other hazardous bisphenols, and bisphenol derivatives in a wide range of food contact materials. This EU regulation came into force in January 2025, providing an 18-month transition period for most products to allow for industry adaptation. Under the Windsor Framework, this regulation applies in Northern Ireland.

Substances Concerned

The proposed UK ban covers bisphenol A (BPA; CAS 80-05-7), and its analogues, such as bisphenol S (BPS; CAS 80-09-1) and bisphenol F (BPF; CAS 620-92-8). All of these substances are currently authorised under assimilated Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food.

Policy Options Considered

Before selecting its preferred approach, the FSA evaluated three regulatory options:

• Option 1: Take no immediate action, which would maintain the status quo but fail to address known health risks.
• Option 2: Ban BPA only, which could result in substitution with structurally similar bisphenols that may pose comparable risks.
• Option 3 (preferred): Ban both BPA and its analogues, offering the most comprehensive protection for public health and ensuring alignment with international developments, including the EU ban.

The FSA concluded that Option 3 best reflects the precautionary principle and provides the strongest level of consumer protection. The consultation therefore focuses on gathering views on the implementation details of this option, such as its scope, potential exemptions, and transition periods.

Next Steps

Stakeholders, including manufacturers, importers, retailers, and consumers, are invited to submit comments via the FSA consultation portal by 17:00 UK time on 24 December 2025. Following the consultation, the FSA will review the responses and make recommendations to UK ministers regarding implementation and potential transition measures.

The proposal reflects the precautionary principle and seeks to ensure consistency with EU developments while strengthening consumer safety across the UK market.

On 16 September 2025, the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) released the seventh edition of the Great Britain (GB) Mandatory Classification and Labelling (MCL) list. This latest update introduces new and revised mandatory classifications for 30 hazardous substances, based on the fifth GB CLP Agency recommendation formally agreed by Ministers in September 2025.

The changes were first notified to the World Trade Organization (WTO) under reference G/TBT/N/GBR/101 on 7 April 2025, giving stakeholders the opportunity to review and comment on the proposal.

Background on the GB MCL

The GB MCL list is a legally binding register of classifications maintained by HSE under the GB CLP Regulation. It provides a consistent framework for the classification and labelling of substances and mixtures across Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales). The list underpins regulatory obligations for manufacturers, importers, downstream users, and distributors, ensuring accurate hazard communication and supporting the protection of human health and the environment.

The GB MCL is updated on a regular basis to reflect scientific advances, regulatory decisions, and international developments. Updates may involve the addition of new substances, changes to existing classifications, and editorial improvements to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Key Highlights of the 7th Edition

• New Classifications: The update introduces new classifications for 30 hazardous chemical substances, including substances such as perboric acid (sodium salt), disodium peroxoborate and ozone. Furthermore, Pigment Red 122 and Solvent Violet 13 have been added, both of which are commonly used in tattoo inks and cosmetics and have been the subject of regulatory scrutiny in Europe.
• These classifications were evaluated by the HSE and recommended by the GB CLP Agency. The full list of substances is available in the WTO notification here  and on the HSE website here.
• Compliance Timeline: The Secretary of State’s Decision was issued on 12 September 2025, with the new and revised classifications entering into legal effect on 23 September 2025. Stakeholders must ensure compliance by the final deadline of 23 March 2027.
• Corrections and Clarifications: The 7th edition also corrects a number of editorial errors and typos from earlier versions of the GB MCL and removes duplicate entries to improve consistency.

Next Steps for Stakeholders

Stakeholders should review the updated list and prepare for the transition period ahead of the 2028 compliance deadline. The GB MCL list and the HSE GB CLP Publication Table here provide detailed information on the updated entries, including the Agency Opinions supporting each classification.