"While it is very difficult to precisely quantify the impact of a possible ban on trade, it is very likely to impact and jeopardize U.S. processed and other food exports to France," writes authors of the U.S. Department of Agriculture report Proposed Bisphenol A ban in food packaging would impact U.S. exports to France.

 

France's food safety agency concluded in a September 2011 preliminary report that Bisphenol A had suspected impact on human health. The following month, the National Assembly passed a bill which bans the sales of any food packaging container and food material containing BPA by January 1, 2014. While the bill still has to pass the Senate before the parliamentary recess in early March 2012 or become void, the French food industry believes it will not be able to avoid a BPA ban due to the public sensitivity on the issue and has requested more time for a transition to BPA-free food packaging. France has informed the European Union of the proposed legislation, which must be found justified and not in breach to EU trade laws to be enacted. The EU Commission is now waiting for comments from other Member States before taking position.