From 1 June, baby bottles containing the substance Bisphenol A (BPA) have to be removed from the shelves in stores across the European Union, as a ban on the placing on the market and import into the EU of such products enters into force. The provisions on BPA are now included in Regulation (EU) Nº 10/2011 on plastic food contact materials amended by Regulation (EU) Nº 321/2011.

BPA is an organic molecule that is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics such as baby bottles. Traces of BPA can be released from plastic containers into the food they carry –infant formula in the case of baby bottles– if these containers are heated at high temperatures. During the first six months of the infants' lives, exposure to the substance is the highest. Also, during this period the infants' system builds up and does not have the capacity to eliminate BPA.

The Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to assess the new scientific evidence and EFSA concluded that Bisphenol A is safe up to a daily intake of 0.05 miligrams per kilo of bodyweight. The exposure of all groups of the population is below this limit. However, EFSA also raised some questions about the possible impact of BPA on infants, and concluded that more robust data on the areas of uncertainty are needed.

In January 2011 the Commission adopted Directive 2011/8/EU, which provides for a ban prohibiting the manufacture in the EU of baby bottles containing BPA, which entered into force in March and a ban on the placing on the market and import into the EU of such products.