BPA CAMPAIGN
Bisphenol A (BPA) belongs to the group of diphenylmethane derivatives and bisphenols, characterised by the presence of two hydroxyphenyl groups. First synthesised in 1881, BPA is primarily used as a monomer in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins—both widely used, high-performance materials.
Polycarbonate plastics are commonly used in products such as baby feeding bottles, dental sealants and tooth coatings, carbonless paper, and plastic toys. Whereas Epoxy resins are extensively used as protective linings for food and beverage containers, as well as in adhesives, flooring, paving and construction materials, composites, electrical and electronic laminates, tooling, vinyl ester resins, and related applications. Notably, the surface linings of food and beverage containers account for nearly 50% of total epoxy resin consumption.
BPA is now widely recognised as an Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) due to its ability to interfere with the normal functioning of the human endocrine system. Scientific studies have demonstrated that BPA can interact with multiple physiological systems, including those regulated by estrogen and thyroid hormones. Exposure to BPA during pregnancy has been shown to adversely affect foetal development, particularly brain development, potentially leading to long-term behavioural and cognitive impacts in children. A growing body of evidence indicates that BPA exposure poses significant risks to human health especially in kids.
In response to these concerns, global efforts have been undertaken to phase out BPA from consumer products, particularly baby feeding bottles and food contact materials. Regulatory authorities such as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and food safety authorities in Australia, China, and South Korea have established a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) for BPA at 50 µg/kg body weight/day. In contrast, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted a far more precautionary approach, lowering the TDI to 4 µg/kg body weight/day—approximately twelve times lower than its previous limit. However, in India, no national standard for BPA TDI has been formally defined, and until 2014, there was limited policy-level discussion on BPA regulation.
Recognising the growing health concerns associated with BPA exposure, Toxics Link initiated the BPA Campaign in 2014 with the objective of eliminating this endocrine-disrupting chemical from consumer products in India. Since its inception, Toxics Link has undertaken continuous primary research, market surveys, and stakeholder consultations on BPA in consumer products. These efforts contributed significantly to regulatory action, including the revision of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for baby feeding bottles in 2015. Under IS 14625:2015, the use of BPA in baby feeding bottles was prohibited.
Subsequently, in 2020, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) banned the use of BPA in food packaging materials intended for infant foods under the Food Safety and Standards (Foods for Infant Nutrition) Regulations, 2020. In 2021, BIS further revised IS 17568:2021, Thermal Paper – Specification, restricting the use of BPA in thermal papers.
Toxics Link has also actively participated in several BIS technical committees to address BPA-related concerns across product categories. We continue to undertake research, engage with regulators and industry stakeholders, and expand evidence generation to strengthen policy interventions and enhance consumer awareness, as efforts are ongoing to bring more scientific research to the forefront in order to better inform and protect consumers.
List of research studies, factsheets on BPA:
Bottles Can Be Toxic – Part II
Factsheet 52 on BISPHENOL-A (BPA) In Teethers – An Indian Perspective
