To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the health impact of bisphenol A in the manufacturing of plastic bottles. [HL3963]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider banning the use of bisphenol A in the manufacturing of (a) babies' feeding bottles, and (b) all plastic bottles containing food or drink. [HL3964]

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of increased levels of bisphenol A in the growth of children; and what assessment they have made of the potential health dangers that chemical is likely to induce. [HL3965]

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works closely with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission to ensure the safety of food contact products containing bisphenol A (BPA), and to ensure it is kept under review.

The health impact of BPA was assessed by EFSA in 2006 and after a comprehensive review of the scientific data, a tolerable daily intake of 0.05 milligrams per kilogram of body weight was established. This is the amount that can be eaten every day, over a whole lifetime, without causing appreciable harm.

In July and October 2008 EFSA confirmed that this evaluation would also apply to infants and pregnant women. Dietary exposures of age groups from three months to adults have been found to be less than 30 per cent of the tolerable daily intake.

The Government’s policy is to maintain the stricter level for BPA that currently applies in the law governing food contact materials, including baby feeding bottles, which is based on an earlier precautionary tolerable daily intake of 0.01 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight per day. I am advised that the FSA sees no basis, on the evidence we have, to press for tighter controls on the use of BPA, or for a ban on its use. Limits in place throughout the European Union, which the FSA has played a full part in establishing and maintaining, provide a precautionary margin of safety beyond expert assessment of the scientific evidence.