Health Canada Affirms BPA Safe For Food-Contact Uses

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Sep 27, 2012, 04:50 ET

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to the release of Health Canada's Updated Assessment of Bisphenol A (BPA) Exposure from Food Sources, which found that that BPA is safe for use in food-contact materials, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) has issued the following statement:

"Health Canada's announcement today once again confirms that BPA is safe for use in food-contact materials," said Steven G. Hentges, Ph.D. of ACC's Polycarbonate/BPA Global Group. "This new assessment further indicates that consumers don't need to be concerned with the minute exposures to BPA from food contact and should be confident in its safe use in everyday consumer products.

"Health Canada states that based on the overall weight of evidence, the experts conclude: 'that current dietary exposure to BPA through food packaging uses is not expected to pose a health risk to the general population, including newborns and young children.'

"BPA is one of the most thoroughly tested chemicals in the market used today and has a safety track record of 50 years. The consensus of government agencies across the world is that BPA is safe for use in food-contact materials. Not only has the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently reconfirmed that it is very unlikely that BPA could cause human health effects but the European Food Safety Authority and a World Health Organization panel have also supported the continued use of BPA in products that come in contact with food."

Assessment available here: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/securit/packag-emball/bpa/bpa_hra-ers-2012-09-eng.php

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The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care^®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $760 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is the largest exporting sector in the U.S., accounting for 12 percent of U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure.

SOURCE American Chemistry Council