Taiwan's Next to Call Bisphenol A Toxic
Although the country won't ban the substance, it will keep track of companies using it.
Taiwan's Environmental Protection Administration is set to list bisphenol A (BPA) as a potentially toxic substance.
Although the county is not banning the use of BPA, an endocrine disruptor, companies that make products with BPA will need to declare their use to the Environmental Protection Administration.
In October, Canada declared BPA toxic and plans to ban its use in baby bottles and lower the amount allowed in other items like baby formula containers. U.S. federal groups have issued conflicting concerns about BPA's possible effects on humans, and the FDA is now reviewing and conducting more BPA-related research.
Health advocates plan to push for a U.S. BPA ban in a meeting with members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team next week. Details of the scope of the proposed ban, though, have not been disclosed. Members of Congress also plan to re-introduce BPA legislation in both the House and Senate; the House bill would ban BPA in all food and drink packaging, but the Senate bill would ban its use only in children's and baby items.
Most of the concern over BPA is its possible effects on the development and health of infants and small children because if they ingest BPA they get more concentrated doses than adults, and if they drink out of bottles or eat out of containers with BPA, especially ones that have been heated, they are more likely to get continued exposure to the chemical.
Although the county is not banning the use of BPA, an endocrine disruptor, companies that make products with BPA will need to declare their use to the Environmental Protection Administration.
In October, Canada declared BPA toxic and plans to ban its use in baby bottles and lower the amount allowed in other items like baby formula containers. U.S. federal groups have issued conflicting concerns about BPA's possible effects on humans, and the FDA is now reviewing and conducting more BPA-related research.
Health advocates plan to push for a U.S. BPA ban in a meeting with members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team next week. Details of the scope of the proposed ban, though, have not been disclosed. Members of Congress also plan to re-introduce BPA legislation in both the House and Senate; the House bill would ban BPA in all food and drink packaging, but the Senate bill would ban its use only in children's and baby items.
Most of the concern over BPA is its possible effects on the development and health of infants and small children because if they ingest BPA they get more concentrated doses than adults, and if they drink out of bottles or eat out of containers with BPA, especially ones that have been heated, they are more likely to get continued exposure to the chemical.
