Two bills proposing a ban on the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging were introduced in France last year by the French Socialist party at the National Assembly. Slated to be approved by the end of this month, following an examination by the French senate, the bills would require that manufacturers operating in France alter their packaging at a high cost.
The pending legislation has American companies worried, given that the ban would also affect exports of food products to France, such as beer and juice. And since the French are the second largest purchasers of Florida juices, the BPA proscription would have an adverse impact on the sale of plastic containers of such products. Unlike large food producers such as Coca Cola, smaller companies may not have the financial resources to reformulate their plastic packages.
This is an excellent example of how stubborn adherence to the precautionary principle harms consumers and the economy, says ACSH s Dr. Gilbert Ross. BPA's safety has been confirmed by a multitude of objective evaluations; yet the fear promoted by activist groups has led to needless regulatory actions, such as this misguided French ban.
Not to mention the fact that the majority of French consumers will be quite unhappy once they learn that they will be deprived of many of the products they love, adds ACSH s Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. It s only a very small, vocal group of people who are against BPA and are forcing such legislation through. Most folks don t realize the harmful effects of such a ban this measure helps no one, but will hurt many.
When, and if, the proposed bills pass, France will require that all food packaging be BPA-free by January 1, 2014. But if BPA is so dangerous, Dr. Whelan half-jokingly asks, then why are government officials in France willing to wait so long to phase it out?