The EU Court (General Court) has today confirmed that the European Chemicals Agency was right when it decided that bisphenol A (BPA) – a chemical used to make plastics – is of ‘very high concern’ for wildlife.
It is the third case on BPA before the EU courts. The General Court had previously confirmed the EU decisions recognising BPA as having disruptive properties for humans – specifically on their reproductive and hormonal systems.
With today’s ruling, the General Court upheld ECHA’s 2018 decision recognising BPA as a hormone-disrupting chemical for wildlife, rejecting an attempt by trade association PlasticsEurope to reverse ECHA’s decision.
Dr. Apolline Roger, chemicals lawyer at ClientEarth, the environmental law charity who intervened in the case, said: “This is a crucial ruling. The recognition of BPA as a substance of very high concern for wildlife is not a box-ticking exercise, it paves the way for further restrictions.”
BPA is used to make plastics (mainly polycarbonate) in a wide variety of products including containers and bottles, kettles, dental fillings. It is also used to make resins lining food tins.
For the full story, visit ClientEarth. ClientEarth is a member of the EDC-Free Europe campaign.