EFSA to convene bisphenol A summit

Foodproductiondaily: "A group of international experts are to be invited to a top level summit on bisphenol A (BPA) by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

The food safety watchdog said it will outline its draft opinion on the chemical at the meeting with national specialists that is due to take place by early April. The venue has yet to be confirmed, an agency spokesman told FoodProductionDaily.com.

Specialists will be able to discuss EFSA’s on-going work on the substance and put forward any relevant national research “in support of the finalisation of EFSA's opinion”, said the body. Members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum have been asked to nominate these experts to take part in the assembly alongside members of the CEF Panel's working group on BPA.

EFSA said its assessment of BPA is currently being prepared by the food contacts panel. It is drawing up the opinion, which is expected to be adopted by May 2010, after a request from the European Commission last October to evaluate the relevance of a new study on possible neuro-developmental effects of BPA. Officials in Brussels also asked the food safety body to consider whether it was necessary to update the existing Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI)."