Government announces BPA baby bottle phase out
Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler today announced the phase out by major retailers of baby bottles containing Bisphenol A (BPA).The voluntary phase out by the Wesfarmers group (Coles, K Mart and Target), and retailers Woolworths, Big W and Aldi is the result of months of constructive discussions between the Australian Government and retailers. The phase out will begin on July 1.
“Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has evaluated the safety of BPA and plasticisers in baby bottles and concluded that levels of intake of BPA or plasticisers are very low and do not pose a risk to babies health,” Mr Butler said.
“However, the US Food and Drug Administration announced earlier this year that it is carrying out further research into the risks for babies and infants associated with BPA.”
A number of countries have responded to consumer concern and the FDA’s announcement about BPA by introducing voluntary withdrawals of BPA baby bottles from the market. Such a decision has been taken in the United States, Canada and a number of European countries.
“The Australian Government appreciates there has been a level of public concern relating to BPA in baby bottles and, as such, has worked extensively with retailers to introduce the phase out.
Mr Butler congratulated the major retailers on their decision to come on board and called on other retailers to do the same as soon as possible.
He said it would ease the concerns of Australian parents.
FINALLY! I think it is disgraceful that it has taken this long to get rid of BPA. three years ago I had to order BPA free baby bottles and food storage containers from America because it was too hard to find here. And I used glass and stainless steel for everything else.
Now let’s hope Australia will catch up with the rest of the world and ban Phthalates.
This is only a VOLUNTARY phase out not COMPULSORY, therefore the companies involved do not have to do a thing if they don’t want to. It should be COMPULSORY to get rid of this harmful & toxic chemical. There is no such thing as a SAFE level when it comes to childhood diseases, maybe this is partly the cause of the increase in cancer in children. Who knows. All I know is I’m switching to BPA free products, maybe I can at least give my son a better chance.