Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Implant boss arrested

Updated at 7:31 am on 30 January 2012

The man at the centre of an international health scare over sub-standard breast implants has been charged and released on bail in France.

Jean-Claude Mas, 72, founded PIP, the company responsible for the implants which contained a cheap industrial silicone instead of medical grade gel.

The ABC reports he is charged with involuntary injury. Bail was set at 100,000 euro.

The prostheses were withdrawn from the European market in 2010 after France's health watchdog discovered they were made from substandard, industrial-grade gel.

Mas has already confirmed they were made with a non-authorised silicon gel, but has rejected any suggestion they pose a health risk.

Up to 400,000 women in 65 countries are believed to have been given implants.

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