The Society of the Plastics Industry, or SPI, the US plastics industry trade association, says there is no reason for Chinese stores or consumers to be concerned over health risks from using non-stick cookware.

The SPI said there is no evidence of any health risks. It also pointed out that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also had stated last year that it knew of no reason for consumers to stop using any such products.

EPA said last week that US DuPont Corp. had failed to report potential health risks from use of a chemical known as PFOA or C-8. This chemical is used as a polymerization aid in producing non-stick cookware and other goods.

However, the SPI said that the EPA action last week was not about the discovery of any new health risks associated with DFOA or no-stick cookware. It said EPA announcement was not a warning about health risks, but an administrative complaint alleging that DuPont had failed to meet certain reporting requirements more than 20 years ago.

(CRI July 17, 2004)