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Trade and Industry Department The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
Brand Hong Kong - Asia world city
MY COLOUR

Commercial Information Circulars

24-hour hotline : 23 922 922

e-mail address : enquiry@tid.gov.hk

Ref : EIC 191/2

29 October 2008

Dear Sirs,

Commercial Information Circular No. 533/2008

Canada : Final Screening Assessment Report of Bisphenol A and the Proposed Risk Management Approach

The Canadian Department of the Environment and Department of Health released in the Canada Gazette, Part I of 18 October 2008 a summary of the final Screening Assessment Report of Phenol, 4,4'-(1-methylethylidene)bis- (bisphenol A) and the proposed risk management approach document for bisphenol A for public comments. Interested parties may submit comments on the proposed risk management approach document prior to 17 December 2008. A copy (pdf format) of the Gazette notice is appended to this circular for reference.

DETAILS

  1.  
  2. The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (the Act) requires the Canadian Minister of the Environment and the Minister of Health to conduct screening assessments of substances that have met the categorization criteria set out in the Act to determine whether these substances present or may present a risk to the environment or human health. 
     
  3. Pursuant to Section 74 of the Act, the Ministers of the Environment and of Health have conducted a screening assessment of bisphenol A. Based on the information available, bisphenol A meets one or more of the criteria set out in Section 64 of the Act. Therefore, the Ministers of the Environment and of Health propose to recommend the addition of bisphenol A to the List of Toxic Substances in Schedule 1 of the Act. The final Screening Assessment Report of bisphenol A is available on the Government of Canada's Chemical Substances website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/substances/ese/eng/challenge/batch2/batch2_80-05-7_en.pdf.
     
  4. It is also given in the Gazette notice that the Ministers of the Environment and of Health have released a proposed risk management approach document for bisphenol A. The risk management being considered for bisphenol A in order to minimize infant exposure to the greatest extent practicable is outlined below:
  1. Polycarbonate baby bottles: the Canadian Government is proposing to ban the importation, sale and advertising of polycarbonate baby bottles made with bisphenol A monomer.
     
  2. Canned infant formula: the Canadian Government (i) proposes to adopt a precautionary approach for bisphenol A in food packaging for products intended for newborns and infants and will be adopting the As Low As Reasonably Achievable (ALARA) principle to minimize exposure of these vulnerable populations to bisphenol A; (ii) will develop stringent migration targets for bisphenol A in infant formula cans; (iii) will continue to scrutinize pre-market submissions for infant formula to ensure the lowest levels of bisphenol A in the food packaging for these products; and (iv) for existing food packaging, is engaging industry in the development and implementation of codes of practice to reduce, to as low as reasonably achievable, the levels of bisphenol A in infant formula.
     
  3. Other canned food: the Canadian Government will explore the option of establishing stringent migration targets for bisphenol A in canned foods in general.

It is the intent of the Canadian Government to publish a proposed risk management measure in the Canada Gazette, Part I, by fall 2010. The proposed risk management approach document for bisphenol A is available on the Government of Canada's Chemical Substances website at http://www.ec.gc.ca/substances/ese/eng/challenge/batch2/batch2_80-05-7_rm_en.pdf.

ENQUIRIES

  1. For enquiries concerning the content of this circular, please contact the undersigned at 2398 5682.

Yours faithfully,




(Miss Bonny CHAO)

for Director-General of Trade and Industry