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EU Supports Restrictions on BPA in Thermal Paper

On June 11, 2015, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) published its support of a French proposal to restrict the use of bisphenol A in thermal paper, such as cashier’s receipts.  The proposal would restrict the placing on the market of thermal paper containing more than 0.02% BPA by weight. The subpopulation of concern is workers, like cashiers, who handle such paper on a regular basis.  The RAC did not conclude that consumers were at risk.

The RAC is expected to release its report soon.  In the meantime, ECHA’s Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will evaluate the proposed BPA restriction in September 2015, with SEAC’s final opinion expected to be released in December 2015.  At that point, both the RAC’s and SEAC’s opinions will be evaluated by the European Commission.

Ms. Grimaldi maintains a diverse environmental law practice focusing on chemical and product regulation and litigation defense. Her practice areas include Proposition 65, California's Safer Consumer Products Regulations, California's Rigid Plastic Packaging Container Act and the federal Toxic Substances Control Act. Ms. Grimaldi graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law magna cum laude and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Bacteriology from University of California, Davis. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a research assistant in laboratories at the University of California, San Francisco Cancer Research Institute and at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.