EU bans chemical from baby bottles

BRUSSELS - A widely used chemical - Bisphenol A - will be banned from baby bottles in the European Union (EU) from the middle of next year, Europe’s food safety agency has ruled, according to a spokesman for the European Commission.

Bisphenol A is used in many common products including in tin cans for preservation and food packaging, but there have been concerns it could be harmful to young children.

The ban on production and imports of baby bottles with the chemical will take effect from June 2011.