Canada allows silicone breast implants again

OTTAWA, Oct 21 (Reuters) Silicone gel breast implants were once again readily available in Canada yesterday after the federal government reversed a partial ban it had had in place for more than 13 years over health concerns.

Health Canada granted licenses to two rival companies, Mentor Corp. and Inamed Corp., a unit of Allergan Inc.

to market their implants in Canada.

The federal agency had banned general sales of such implants in 1993 though it did allow many sales under its Special Access program, under which doctors had to certify that suitable alternative procedures were not available.

REUTERS AKJ HS0853