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ARCHIVED - Response to article by Amy Minsky "Canada's curbs on BPA premature, says WHO panel" - Ottawa Citizen - November 11, 2010

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Letter to the Editor
2010-195
November 16, 2010

I have been reading with interest the Ottawa Citizen's coverage of recent World Health Organization meetings regarding the health impacts of Bisphenol A (BPA).

The Government of Canada's approach to manage potential risks posed by BPA is based on the best available science in order to help protect the health and environment of Canadians.

In October 2008, the Government of Canada published final results from its assessment of BPA under its Chemicals Management Plan. The assessment considered exposures to all age groups, and concluded that there were no concerns for the general public. The focus of Health Canada's assessment was on the most highly exposed group - newborns and infants up to 18 months of age. The assessment concluded that exposure levels for these groups were below those that could cause harmful health effects. However, the Government wanted to be prudent and reduce exposures further.

Based on this approach, Canada was the first country in the world to take action on BPA by proposing actions to reduce exposure to newborns and infants, including a prohibition on the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles containing BPA.

Recently the Government of Canada added BPA to Schedule 1 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999). This action enables the Government to develop risk management measures to further address any potential health and environmental risks posed by BPA.

The Government of Canada will continue to assess new research on BPA produced by scientists in Canada and around the world, and will take further action to protect the health and environment of Canadians if warranted.

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq
Federal Minister of Health

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