Canada Puts BPA on Hazardous List

Canada is set to be the first country to categorize BPA as risky, with the federal government adding it on the country’s list of toxic substances. This move will possibly lead to a ban on the sale of baby bottles which contain BPA and see reduced usage of BPA in canned infant formula.

The toxic classification, issued in the Canada Gazette, the official newspaper of the Government of Canada, makes Canada the first country to classify the organic compound used in many food and drink packaging applications, making plastic hard, as risky.

John Baird, Environment Minister said, "Many Canadians...have expressed their concern to me about the risks of bisphenol A in baby bottles. Today's confirmation of our ban on BPA in baby bottles proves that our government did the right thing in taking action to protect the health and environment for all Canadians."

This move comes six months after Canadian Minister of Health Tony Clement made public his plans to stop the use of the hormone-disrupting chemical as a report on bisphenol A has found the chemical endangers people, particularly newborns and infants, and the environment. He voiced concerns that the chemical in polycarbonate products and epoxy linings can migrate into food and beverages.

In April, after the National Toxicology Program released a draft report voicing concern about the chemical corporations such as Wal-Mart and Babies “R” Us, decided to phase out products containing the controversial chemical.

The debate has been going on for years and the European Union and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have said that the chemical is safe.

The chemicals industry maintains that polycarbonate bottles contain little BPA and leach traces considered too low to harm humans. The FDA is awaiting word from a scientific panel expected to deliver an independent risk assessment later this month.

Dr. Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence Canada, a Toronto-based environmental health group said, "The Canadian government remains the only national government in the world to take decisive action against bisphenol A. That has been noticed around the world."

BPA production is around 7 billion pounds each year worldwide and the major concern has been over BPA's possible effects on reproductive development and hormone-related problems.

Robert Brackett, chief science officer for the Grocery Manufacturers Association, said Canada's precautionary action regarding the use of BPA is disproportional to the risk determined by public health agencies.

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