Canada Declares BPA to Be Toxic

NYTimes.com: "The government of Canada formally declared bisphenol A, a chemical widely used to create clear, hard plastics, as well as food can liners, to be a toxic substance on Wednesday.

The compound, commonly known as BPA, has been shown to disrupt the hormone systems of animals and is under review in the United States and Europe.

Canada’s move, which was strenuously fought by the chemical industry, followed an announcement by the government two years ago that it would eliminate the compound’s use in polycarbonate bottles used by infants and children.

The compound was formally listed as being toxic to both the environment and human health in an official notice published online by the government without fanfare, a noticeable contrast to the earlier baby bottle announcement, which was made by two cabinet ministers."

Consumer fears spurring industry push for bisphenol A substitutes

Beveragedaily.com: "“It is critical for investors to understand the potential liabilities for companies that use BPA in their products or product packaging,” said Larisa Ruoff, Green Century’s director of shareholder advocacy. “With growing consumer and regulatory concern about the health effects of BPA, companies should phase out the chemical to avoid reputational, competitive, litigation and regulatory troubles.”

The groups pointed out that a number of US states had already banned or restricted BPA use in food contact materials for young children. They warned that companies failing to develop BPA alternatives “could experience declined competitiveness in their own markets”."

http://tinyurl.com/35clxtj

Seeking Safer Packaging Report

Canada issues final order to control "toxic" BPA under CEPA

Chemical Watch: "The Canadian government has issued a final order classifying bisphenol A (BPA) as a toxic substance to be added to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA). Ministers of the Canadian Health and Environment departments will now propose regulations or instruments to manage both human health and environmental risks posed by the substance no later than 16 October 2010 and finalise them by 16 April 2012"

EU Commission, Member States to discuss minimising infant exposure to BPA

Chemical Watch: "At a meeting tomorrow the European Commission will discuss with EU Member States how best to minimise exposure of infants to bisphenol A. The discussion follows the adoption of an opinion by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to maintain the tolerable daily intake of bisphenol A (BPA) in September (CW 30 September 2010). The Commission says the issue will be raised in the context of a meeting of governmental experts on food contact"

Higher than predicted human exposure to the toxic chemical bisphenol A or BPA

LabSpaces: "A study published online in the Sept. 20 NIH journal Environmental Health Perspectives ties rodent data on the health effects of BPA to predictions of human health effects from BPA with the use of everyday household products. The study was authored by researchers at the University of Missouri Division of Biological Sciences and Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Lab (VMDL) and Biomedical Sciences, in collaboration with scientists at the University of California-Davis and Washington State University.

'This study provides convincing evidence that BPA is dangerous to our health at current levels of human exposure,' said Fredrick vom Saal, Curators' professor of biological sciences at the University of Missouri. 'The new results clearly demonstrate that rodent data on the health effects of BPA are relevant to predictions regarding the health effects of human exposure to BPA. Further evidence of human harm should not be required for regulatory action to reduce human exposure to BPA.'"

Bisphenol A-free polymer coating touted as alternative to epoxy can lining

foodproductiondaily: "A new polymer coating suitable for use as a lining in food and beverage cans is free from bisphenol A (BPA) and is produced using around 60 per less energy than traditional epoxy materials, said the US company behind the product.

Design Analysis Inc, of Jacksonville, Florida, said the PolyKoat thermoplastic polyester coating is free of all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is a greener alternative to competitive food can linings. It can be attached directly onto a range of hot and cold-rolled metal packaging substrates; galvanised and tin-free steel and aluminium."

EFSA advises against lower EU limit on BPA

ENDS Europe: "The tolerable daily intake (TDI) for controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) should not be lowered, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said on Thursday. The agency also found no evidence of neurobehavioral toxicity in BPA."