BEIJING - The ban by the European Union on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic baby bottles has alarmed Chinese parents looking for safer alternatives.

Following a directive issued on Jan 28, 2010, the EU adopted the ban on Tuesday, citing fears that the compound could affect development and immune response in young children.

The move sent a firm reminder to many Chinese consumers of plastic baby bottles still in wide circulation in China.

BPA is used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate (PC) plastics, which in turn are used to make plastic products such as baby bottles. Small amounts of BPA can be released from plastic containers at high temperatures.

Zhang Yuxin, an IT specialist who had a baby girl three months ago, said she has taken doctors' advice not to use PC bottles for her baby.

"We are deeply concerned about the possible danger of BPA exposure to infants. Now that the EU has introduced the ban, we hope China will follow suit in the near future," she added.

Some retailers in China stay attuned to the evolving international standard of BPA use, and try to address consumers' mounting concerns.

Lijiababy, a chain store headquartered in Beijing selling baby products, started withdrawing PC plastic baby bottles last summer, said Ren Xuemin, the shopkeeper at the chain's Beichen store.

Most of the bottles are made from glass. A few PC bottles remain on the shelves, but shop assistants usually remind customers of the substance's possible effects on babies.

"Although we have received official approval to import PC bottles, the new EU ban will encourage us to consider stopping further orders, even if we do not have to do so by Chinese standards," Ren said.

But in the absence of a nationwide policy adjustment, not all retailers in China share Ren's idea. A store of Wumart, a supermarket chain in Beijing, has only one brand of baby bottles on offer, either made from PC or glass. The shop assistant said she was unaware of BPA's harmful effects.

The current regulation in China, in force since 1994, says BPA in food packaging plastics is safe up to 0.05 milligrams in one liter of distilled water, according to Dong Jinshi, secretary-general of the International Food Packaging Association.

And the public should not overreact or panic if they know how to use the products safely, because BPA's toxic effects only occur under certain conditions, Dong said.

Li Yao contributed to this story.

China Daily

(China Daily 03/02/2011 page5)