Officials for the Canadian health and environmental ministries announced on Friday that the polycarbonate BPA (bisphenol-a) has been officially declared toxic and it is likely that a complete ban on manufacture of BPA-containing baby bottles will be introduced within a year.

Earlier this week, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) overturned an earlier ruling that declared BPA safe for use in products used to contain infant baby foods and beverages. Under the new ruling, BPA is officially acknowledged as a chemical of concern with respect to long-term health risks. The chemical acts on the body in a manner similar to human hormones and has been found to produce long-term health issues when animals were exposed to normal levels of BPA.

The revised HHS ruling prompted retailers across Canada to remove edible products packaged in containers made from BPA. Wal-Mart and Sears removed all BPA products from stores across Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada’s largest pharmacy chain, began removing BPA products from its 1,080 stores following the government announcement on Friday.

The Canadian ban will take effect in several stages. First is the designation as toxic, as announced on Friday. A 60-day commentary period comes next although there is little hope of reversal at this time. Canadian regulations are such that an official ban cannot be declared for about a year.

The toxic designation came after the health ministry, led by Tony Clement, conducted its own studies and reviewed 150 additional research papers. The government’s conclusion is that children 18 months and younger are most at risk of developing future behavioral and neural symptoms that are associated with BPA exposure.

Emma Zecchini, speaking on behalf of the Food and Consumer Products of Canada, of which she is senior vice president for public policy, says the organization will probably ask the Canadian government to forgo an actual ban on the products although the reaction to BPA by retailers and consumers may be more thorough in removing BPA products from Canada than the government’s actions.

US Senator Charles E. Schumer, a Democrat from New York, says he will introduce a bill on Monday calling for a ban on products containing BPA in the US. He’d like to prohibit its use in all children’s products, even non-food items that a child may put in its mouth. His bill will also call for eliminating BPA in all food and beverage containers. Citing the desire to be better safe than sorry, Schumer says his bill will give the plastics packaging industry ample time to find suitable alternatives.

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