Services: Electrical testing and certification, environmental or chemical testing

language
- English
- 中文

400-9269-886

NEWS CENTER

Industry News

Company News

Knowledge

California plans to ban intentional addition of bisphenol, antimony trioxide, and phthalates in food packaging

Time：

2025-04-07

On March 28, 2025, the United States revised the California AB 1148 Act on Food Packaging - the 2025 Food Safety Packaging Act

On March 28, 2025, California made its first amendment to AB 1148, aimed at further strengthening the regulation of harmful substances in food packaging to protect public health and environmental safety. AB 1148 Act, also known as the Safer Food Packaging Act 2025, was proposed on February 20, 2025.

Details of Bill Control

Starting from January 1, 2027, California will prohibit the intentional addition of the following three types of substances to food packaging * (with levels below the limits specified by subsequent regulations):

Bisphenol substances (referring to two phenol rings connected by a connecting atom. The connecting atom and the phenol ring may also have additional substituents, excluding tetramethylbisphenol F (TMBPF, CAS 5384-21-4));
Antimony trioxide;
Phthalate esters
*Food packaging refers to non durable packaging, packaging components, or food service utensils used to hold, supply, store, process, protect, or sell food, food ingredients, or beverages, including food or beverage containers, takeaway food containers, product boxes, liners, packaging paper, tableware, straws, food boxes, and disposable plates, bowls, or trays.

Related material background

01. Bisphenol substances

Industry applications: Bisphenol based substances are widely used in food contact materials due to their excellent chemical stability and heat resistance, such as polycarbonate (PC) plastic bottles, epoxy resin coatings (can liners), thermal receipt paper, etc

Health risks: Bisphenol substances are typical endocrine disruptors, and long-term exposure may cause immune system damage, reproductive health problems, and even cancer

02. Antimony trioxide

Industry application: Used for flame retardant modification of plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), commonly found in microwave lunch boxes and ready to eat food containers

Health risks: Long term exposure to antimony trioxide may cause irritation to the respiratory system and skin, and has a certain carcinogenic risk

03. Phthalates

Industry application: As the main plasticizer for PVC plastics, it is commonly used in food packaging films, bottle cap seals, and hoses

Health risk: Phthalate esters have reproductive toxicity, risk of liver damage, can also interfere with the normal function of the endocrine system, affect metabolism, and increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease

In recent years, the safety of food contact materials has been increasingly emphasized globally. For these three types of substances, countries and regions have successively introduced relevant control measures, such as:

In May 2022, the US FDA revised the content of the Food Additives Regulation (21CFR-Title21), removing 25 previously authorized phthalates used as (indirect) food additives;

In October 2023, the US Congress introduced H.R. 6105, the proposed Food Packaging Non Toxic Act of 2023, which identified five categories of substances as unsafe for use in food contact materials, including bisphenol A, B, S, F, AF or related compounds, antimony trioxide, and phthalates;

In December 2024, the European Union officially passed regulations prohibiting the use of bisphenol A in food contact materials. These measures indicate that banning harmful substances in food contact materials has become a global trend.

We would like to remind relevant companies to keep an eye on the progress of this proposal and avoid using prohibited substances in food contact materials.