"From now on, U.S. manufacturers may no longer produce polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy cups (for toddlers) if the clear plastic had been manufactured from bisphenol A, a hormone-mimicking compound. Long-awaited, the announcement is anything but a bold gesture. The Obama administration decided to lock this barn door after the cow had died."

"In the July 17 Federal Register, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that effective immediately, it will no longer permit BPA-based polycarbonate products aimed specifically at feeding children. Its justification: production of these goods for the U.S. market 'has been completely and permanently abandoned.'

In fact, the American Chemistry Council, a trade group representing (among others) plastics manufacturers, petitioned for the action. Presumably, member companies that have voluntarily phased out the controversial formulation don’t want to risk any foreign hold outs encroaching on their territory. But whatever ACC’s motivation, acknowledges San Francisco-based Sarah Janssen, a senior public health scientist with NRDC, an environmental advocacy group, FDA’s action on BPA-based products is a step in the right direction."

Janet Raloff reports for Science News July 17, 2012. [2]