Ingredient Index

Is Bisphenol S (BPS) banned in Europe?

Banned in EU

Yes: when the EU banned BPA in food-contact materials, it swept in bisphenol S as well, so BPS is prohibited in EU food packaging under the 2024 regulation. The US has no comparable federal ban, and BPS is widely used as a BPA substitute.

CAS: 80-09-1 Also seen as: Bisphenol S, BPS, 4,4'-sulfonyldiphenol

What the EU does

Banned in food contact. When the EU adopted its landmark ban on bisphenol A in food-contact materials in December 2024, it did not stop at BPA. The regulation also prohibits other hazardous bisphenols, and bisphenol S is named explicitly alongside BPA and others. The point was to avoid a "regrettable substitution," where a banned chemical is simply swapped for a close cousin with similar concerns.

BPS had become a popular BPA replacement, including in some products marketed as "BPA-free." The EU treated that substitution skeptically and closed the door on it in food packaging under the same measure, with staggered transition periods running from 2026.

Citation Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/3190 (19 Dec 2024; bans BPA and other hazardous bisphenols, incl. bisphenol S, in food-contact materials); staged transition from 2026

What the US does

No comparable ban. The US has no federal prohibition on bisphenol S in food-contact materials. BPS is used as a BPA alternative in thermal receipt paper, can linings, and various plastics, and it can appear in products labeled "BPA-free" precisely because it is a different molecule.

Research on BPS is still maturing, but a recurring finding is that it shares some of BPA's hormone-disrupting behavior, which is exactly why the EU refused to treat it as a safe substitute. The US, for now, leaves it on the market.

Citation US: no federal food-contact ban on bisphenol S; used as a BPA substitute in thermal paper, can linings, and plastics; often present in "BPA-free" products

Products that commonly contain it

As a BPA substitute, BPS can turn up in:

Linings of some cans and food containers
Thermal receipt paper
Plastics marketed as "BPA-free"
Reusable bottles and food storage items

What to look for on a label

BPS is rarely named on labels, so the signals are indirect:

"BPA-free" does not mean bisphenol-free; BPS may be the substitute
EU-market food packaging must now exclude BPS under the 2024 ban
Glass and stainless steel avoid the bisphenol question entirely

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Frequently asked questions

Is bisphenol S banned in Europe?

Yes, in food-contact materials. The EU's 2024 bisphenol regulation banned BPA and named other hazardous bisphenols, including BPS, to prevent a like-for-like substitution.

Does "BPA-free" mean BPS-free?

No. "BPA-free" only means the specific molecule BPA is absent. BPS is a common substitute and can be present in products marketed that way.

Is BPS banned in the US?

No. The US has no federal food-contact ban on bisphenol S, and it is used as a BPA alternative in packaging, receipts, and plastics.

Related ingredients

Primary sources

Last reviewed August 17, 2026 · How we assign statuses