French has approved the Bisphenol A (BPA) ban on food contact packaging

On Dec 26, 2012, the French parliament has approved the Bisphenol A(BPA) ban on food contact packaging (Law No.2012-1442) and published in the French Official Journal. Certain medical devices with phthalate (DEHP) containing tubes are also subjected to this ban.

Effective from Jan 1, 2013, the manufacture, import, export and placing on the market of the following products containing BPA shall be prohibited:

1. Food packaging that would come into direct contact with food for children under 3 years of age;

2. Collars or shields of teats and soothers, teethers; 3. Baby bottles specially for use in health institutions.

Effective from Jan 1, 2015, all food packaging intended to come into direct contact with food containing BPA shall be prohibited. Food packaging containing BPA that would come into direct contact with food shall bear a health warning label advising against the use of such packaging due to the presence of BPA by pregnant women, breastfeeding women, infants and young children.