BPF statement in response to call to ban import of plastic bottles from the EU

In response to claims made in an article about a proposal from the UK's European Research Group to temporarily ban imports of bottled water from the EU, which was initially published on 27 February 2021, the British Plastics Federation (BPF) has issued the following statement:

Plastic bottles for water are typically made of PET, which has been used as a lightweight, safe and hygienic material to protect and preserve food and beverages for decades. It is considered entirely safe by the European Food Safety Authority and the UK’s Food Standards Agency. The health of consumers is always of the highest priority to anyone involved in the food and drink supply chain. Promoting the idea that bottled water contains an abundance of toxins is misleading, as any packaging material that comes into contact with food or drink has to adhere to strict guidelines and mandated safety limits.