The Ministry of Health of Costa Rica has banned the use of Bisphenol A

San Jose, April 6, 2010. In order to ensure and protect the health of the population, on 6 April 2010, the health authorities issued the "Executive Order banning the use of bisphenol A in baby bottles and other containers dedicated to feeding children."

This regulation stems from the proposal of the National Breastfeeding Committee who asked the health authorities for a ban on this product, because it is a toxic substance contained in polycarbonates.

The main regulations in the decree are:

• Prohibit the use of bisphenol A because it is a toxic chemical in polycarbonates 
• A total ban applying to domestic manufacturers, importers and distributors, on marketing and distribution within the country of bottles and other containers used to contain food and beverages for children when these are manufactured with polycarbonates.

In addition, the decree grants a period of three months for domestic manufacturers, importers and distributors which hold a stock of these products, so that bottles and other containers used to contain food and beverages for children are withdrawn from the market.

After this period, if there are still some of these products for sale, health authorities protected by the General Health Act will proceed to confiscate and later destroy them.

What is bisphenol A?

Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical used as raw material for the manufacture of a variety of compounds. This product is used in consumer products, including those which come into contact directly with food, including beverage containers, bottles, plastic bottles, food packaging, plastic tableware, among others.

This substance was developed in 1891 as a synthetic hormone estrogen. In the 50s it began to be used to make plastics and recyclable cans for packaging food and beverages.

There is scientific evidence demonstrating the association of the product with health risks for children, mainly during pregnancy and in newborn babies; in addition, bisphenol A helps to produce some types of cancer, alters the endocrinology system, leads to precocious puberty, obesity, diabetes, hyperactivity, and increases the risk of developing type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver abnormalities, infertility, spontaneous abortions, birth defects and developmental problems.

Some of these products have the recycling triangle symbol with the number 7 inside the arrows or the letters PC. According to the Program and Child Health Care of California, United States, each year it produces more than 6 billion pounds of bisphenol A, and pregnant women, infants and young children are most vulnerable to its harmful effects.

Health officials remind that breastmilk is the best food for babies and nothing replaces it. Do not feed them with bottles, but prefer cups instead.