Today is the last day for China's Ministry of Health to receive comments on its draft ban on the use of BPA in food containers/bottles for infants and young children.

If comments from six other government agencies are in agreement, the Ministry of Health will ban the domestic production and import of such products starting June 1. Sale of such products will be prohibited starting Sept. 1.

The announcement for the draft ban seeking comments came out on April 13. Since then, consumers have reacted strongly by purchasing glass bottles and containers instead, which has prompted some retailers to take plastic bottles and containers off shelves way ahead of the possible government deadline, according to various media reports.

Canada was the first country to ban BPA in baby bottles in 2008. The European Union has put in place a ban on production of baby bottles containing BPA starting March 1 and a ban of sale and imports starting June 1. Canada was also the first country to declare BPA a toxic substance last September.