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The French agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (ANSES) proposed that the concentration of Bisphenol A (BPA), a monomer used as a pigment developer in the manufacture of thermal paper (sales slips, payment receipts, fax paper, etc.), should not exceed 0.02% in weight. At this concentration, this limit value would in fact correspond to the prohibition of BPA.
The proposal contains:
- An extensive analysis of the possible alternatives to BPA in thermal paper, including alternative chemical developers and alternative printing techniques, and paperless techniques such as the electronic sales slip. Regarding alternative developers in particular, and although substitution for BPA in thermal paper has already begun in Europe, the ANSES emphasizes that, given the uncertainty inherent in their hazard profile, no chemical substance can as yet be recommended as a safe alternative to BPA. In particular, certain other bisphenols could have similar toxic properties.
- A thorough socio-economic analysis of the costs and benefits entailed by the proposed restriction in the form of a detailed assessment of the economic, social and health impacts of the measure at the European level.
This ANSES proposal is the subject of a public consultation on the website of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) until mid-December 2014.
