Government and Policy

China mulls prohibition of BPA in infant bottles

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-21 07:16

BEIJING - China's Ministry of Health is mulling prohibiting the use of Bisphenol-A, a chemical widely used in plastics manufacturing, in infant food containers, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday.

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The ministry is soliciting opinions from related government agencies on the draft regulations that would prohibit the manufacturing and import of infant food containers that contain the chemical beginning June 1, 2011, said a statement that Xinhua received from the ministry.

Also as part of the draft regulations, China would prohibit the sale of such infant food containers beginning September 1 of this year.

Bisphenol-A, one of the chemicals that classified as endocrine disruptors, may lead to early sexual development of children and could cause cancer, according to health officials.

The chemical is widely used in producing infant feeding bottles and beverage containers.