Plans to ban or restrict polycarbonate-based food containers used by infants and young children, due to fears of the adverse health effects of PC feedstock bisphenol A, appear to be gathering momentum. Most recently, nine members of the French parliament have proposed a ban. If it succeeds, France would become the first European country to outlaw the use of the PC feedstock in food applications.

The country’s food safety authority, AFSSA, is currently re-examining its approval of BPA and the French non-governmental organisation “Antidote Europe” has urged the European parliament to place restrictions on its use in manufacturing products for children. The environmental health pressure group Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) has also issued warnings about the substance. It notes that some beverage bottlers in France have already switched from polycarbonate to polypropylene.

Outside Europe, Canada is moving towards banning polycarbonate baby bottles. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has repeatedly declared BPA to be safe, has promised to finally complete its latest review by the end of November. The agency has been accused of foot dragging at the behest of the American Chemistry Council (ACC). Reports say the latest review will include more than 100 new studies, including some at low doses.

Also in the US, Massachusetts has advised parents of infants not to use products containing BPA (see Plasteurope.com of 14.08.2009). Minnesota and Connecticut, the city of Chicago and local entities in a number of states, including New York, have banned its use in baby bottles and cups. The California state senate is hearing a bill on restricting BPA in food packaging aimed at children under three. By contrast, up to now the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) have said they see no scientific basis for restricting BPA in food contact applications.