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France and Denmark ban Bisphenol-A from babies bottles |
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Written by Claudia Cahalane, packagingnews.co.uk
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Tuesday, 29 June 2010 |
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 France and Denmark are banning industrial chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from babies' bottles as of this week, but the British Plastics Federation has suggested a similar move was unlikely in the UK.
The Denmark ban is being described as temporary, but the French ban is permanent and the country’s government will next year decide on whether to ban the controversial plastic component from all products.
The British Plastic Federation said the ban was unjustifiable and that the UK was unlikely to see a similar move.
Phillip Law, public affairs director, told Packaging News: "It’s unjustifiable because consumer products contain very, very tiny trace amounts of BPA."
Law said that the Food Standards Agency in the UK had last year confirmed that there was no basis to press for higher controls of the chemical or for a ban on it based on current evidence.
Canada has already banned BPA, as have several US states and other European countries are considering a ban. Some UK manufacturers, such as NUK, which produces babies’ bottles, have also banned Bisphenol A.
Health concerns
French politicians said the publication of numerous studies raising health concerns about the chemical’s presence in polycarbonate containers had triggered their action.
In a bill proposal which was laid before the Senate on 27 July, 2009, it said: "Certain studies have demonstrated the chemical acts as an endocrine disruptor and have even established links between BPA and prostate and breast cancer, obesity, diabetes and thyroid dysfunctions, as well as behavioural and reproductive problems."
A statement by the Danish government said: "Based on a new assessment by the National Food Institute at the Technical University we are introducing a temporary national ban on Bisphenol A (BPA) in materials that are in contact with food for children aged 0-3 years of age as of 1 July 2010."
In March this year, the European Food Safety Authority called on national experts to submit any new evidence on Bisphenol A for consideration. It has yet to make its final opinion on the safety of the chemical.
Law said he was unable to speculate on whether further manufacturers in the UK were considering removing BPA from their products.
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