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Re-activateOn November 25th, the European Commission announced a ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles starting in 2011. The decision applies only to BPA that is used in baby bottles, but not several other uses of the chemical. The commission cited evidence and concerns that the compound could affect development, immune response, and tumor promotion in young children.
BPA has been used for years in clear plastic bottles and food-can liners. (See BPA in canned foods and baby formula.) Some studies have linked BPA to reproductive abnormalities and a heightened risk of breast and prostate cancers, diabetes, and heart disease.
EU member states will have to ban the manufacture of polycarbonate (PC) infant feeding bottles that contain bisphenol A (BPA) starting on March 1, 2011, according to a statement from the European Commission. And starting on June 1, 2011, imports of baby bottles into the EU—and their sales in the union—would also be prohibited.
The decision came after several months of discussion with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), member states, and the industry.
European Union member states France and Denmark have already adopted national measures to restrict the use of BPA in infant feeding bottles. Danish authorities even extended the BPA restriction to all food products for children up to three years old.
In October 2010, Canada became the first country in the world to classify BPA as a toxic substance and ban BPA in baby bottles. Connecticut and Minnesota also have restrictions on BPA use.
—Joyce Newman
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