ECHA committee takes step towards reclassifying BPA as 1B reprotoxicant.

The Risk Assessment Committee of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has adopted an opinion to strengthen the harmonized classification and labeling (CLH) of bisphenol A (BPA), in line with a proposal by France regarding the substance’s adverse effects on sexual function and fertility. BPA is currently classified as a category 2 reproductive toxicant and would be reclassified as a category 1B reproductive toxicant.

The committee’s consensus-made action was based on “‘rock-solid’ multigenerational rodent studies” and tees up a final decision to be made by the European Commission. France’s reclassification proposal has received mixed responses [PDF] from member states and industry. If approved, the reclassification of BPA as category 1B would trigger Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) criteria under REACH.

BPA is a monomer widely used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins and as a developer in thermal paper. In late 2013, ECHA followed up a German substance evaluation of BPA by issuing a request for further data on skin absorption and environmental exposure. The European Found Safety Authority (EFSA) also recently closed a public consultation period on a draft assessment of the human health risks of BPA via food exposure. A recent rodent study conducted by U.S. researchers at the National Center for Toxicology Research, however, concluded that orally-ingested BPA did not affect body weight, reproductive organs, or hormones at levels comparable to the amount Americans typically ingest.