Ban on bisphenol-A in baby bottles

Ban on the bulk chemical bisphenol-A in baby bottles. EU authorities are suspected of being infiltrated by lobby groups. Therefore, no stricter guidelines have been established?

02/11/2011

From the first of March 2011, the manufacturers of baby bottles are no longer allowed to use the harmful chemical bisphenol-A for production. As of June this year, the charged baby bottles can no longer be traded in the German trade. This was announced by the Federal Ministry of Consumer Affairs. Other products such as receipts, plastic bottles or thermal paper continue to use hormone-like bulk chemicals.

Long overdue was the ban on bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. Scientific reports have existed for years that certify that the chemical has a negative effect on the human organism. In many countries, a ban had already been introduced several years ago, whereas in Germany, consumer advocates were unable to prevail.

Bisphenol A acts like a hormone and damages the organism
Since the chemical acts like the female hormone estrogen, numerous studies have already been able to show that the hormone balance in women and men massively disturbed. An indication of this effect are the rising numbers of infertility in women. Last year, for example, a study was presented at the science congress "Endocrine Society", which showed that the plastic chemical severely disturbs the hormone balance and, among other things, leads to diseases of the ovaries. During the study, women with a high BPA share suffered from polycystic ovarian syndrome in up to ten percent of cases. Women who suffered from this disease usually had higher levels of bisphenol-A in their blood than others. Another study from the prestigious Harvard University in the US came to a similar conclusion. The researchers found that BPA negatively affects not only the maturation of eggs, but also the course of pregnancy. Women who were repeatedly affected by abortions had high levels of BPA in the blood. (Bisphenol-A causes infertility in women)

Further studies have suggested that the everyday chemical leads to a reduction in sperm production in men, which ultimately provokes infertility in males as well. Researchers also see support for diabetes and obesity in the context of BPA.

EU Authority: Health is not at risk from BPA
The European Food Safety Authority said that health damage was not to be feared by the BPA chemical. „The levels of bisphenol A that are ingested by the German population are well below the limit set in all age groups, "the EU agency said, raising the question of why many scientific studies are contravened despite the fact that the study documents are unique.

The MDR had recently found during a research that apparently the EU Food and Drug Administration is heavily influenced by lobbying associations. Because the MDR journalists made an amazing discovery. A review of the personal details within the European Food Safety Authority showed that the Hungarian Diana Banati is the President of the EFSA Management Board. At the same time Banati sat for a long time in the lobbyists Association "International Life Sciences Institute ILSI" in the Supervisory Board. This association is responsible for numerous large corporations such as Nestlé, Bayer or Coca-Cola ... In addition to these corporations, the ILSI is also financed by the largest Bisphenol-A producers. Ms. Banati has long been a leader in the Lobbyists' Association and also the President of the EFSA Management Board. In addition, three other important EU officials were also working for a lobby association. (Lobbyists prevent bisphenol A ban)

EU Directive only slightly tightened
Officially, it was said in a statement by the federal government that not all questions about bisphenol-A were completely scientifically clarified. Therefore, the European Commission gave in to pressure from Germany and as a precaution limited the use of BPA. The directive, however, does not speak of a general ban, but only a minimal restriction, and only with regard to baby bottles. The ban on BPA in baby bottles will come into force on 1 March 2011. Products already manufactured have a transitional period of three months. However, baby pacifiers and baby bottles that are BPA free are already available on the market. In many children's toys BPA is still not prohibited. (Sb)

Read on the topic:
Lobbyists prevent Bisphenol-A ban
Study: Girls getting sexually mature sooner
Hormone-active chemicals threaten health
Federal Environmental Agency warns of chemical bisphenol A
Chemical bisphenol A found on receipts
Bisphenol-A causes infertility in women

Picture: Rudolf Ortner