EU bans sale of baby bottles containing Bisphenol A

     BRUSSELS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Baby bottles containing the substance Bisphenol A (BPA) would have to be pulled from the shelves across the European Union (EU) starting from Wednesday, in a "milestone¹" move to better protect the health of EU citizens, an official said Tuesday.

    "Due to the fact that there are uncertainties² concerning the effect of the exposure of infants to Bisphenol A, the commission deemed it both necessary and appropriate to take action," said John Dalli, EU Health and Consumer Policy Commissioner³.

    "The aim is to further reduce the exposure of the most vulnerable part of our population, i.e. infants," he said.

    The ban, adopted in an EU directive in late January, would prohibit baby bottles containing BPA from placing on the EU market and import into the 27-member EU from June 1.

    Previously, the bloc⁴ had already banned the manufacture of the controversial baby bottles on March 1, and the industry has been withdrawing such products voluntarily.

    BPA is an organic molecule⁵ that is used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, which are used to manufacture plastic materials, such as baby bottles.

    Traces of BPA can be released from plastic containers into the food they carry if these containers are heated at high temperatures. They may lead to early sexual development of children and could cause cancer, according to health officials.

    China would also prohibit the manufacture of feeding bottles containing BPA from June 1, while imports and sales of bottles containing BPA would be banned starting from Sept. 1.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

2 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

3 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

4 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

5 molecule   

n.分子，克分子

参考例句：

• A molecule of water is made up of two atoms of hygrogen and one atom of oxygen.一个水分子是由P妈̬f婘̬ 妈̬成的。
• This gives us the structural formula of the molecule.这种方式给出了分子的结构式。