France has lifted a ban imposed on the manufacture and export of food contact materials containing the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), but the import or sale of products containing BPA within its borders is still not allowed.
The country's highest court ruled that the ban should be lifted on manufacture and export of products with BPA as it is accepted in several export markets. The court, however, ruled that the ban will continue to remain in place on import or sale of products containing the chemical, as research has shown that BPA could lead to health risks.
France imposed a ban on the use of BPA, used to stiffen plastics, in baby bottles in 2010, and the restriction has been in place since then on other products as well. Challenging the ruling, plastic manufacturers argued that it encroached on their commercial freedom, reported Reuters.
In January, European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) stated that BPA, under the present levels of exposure, did not pose any health risk to consumers of any age.
A number of researchers have indicated that the chemical may be linked to ailments such as cancer, heart disease, infertility, kidney and liver problems.
In 2012, the US FDA introduced a ban on the use of the chemical in baby bottles, although it had stated then that there was no sufficient evidence on the risk factor to extend the ban on wider range of products if the chemical is used at low levels.
Besides France, Denmark is the only other country to have imposed a complete ban on the use of the chemical.
