Corrected: Proposed BPA ban on hold at California assembly

10 September 2009 04:48  [Source: ICIS news]

Correction: In the ICIS news story with the headline “Proposed BPA ban on hold at California assembly” dated 10 September 2009, please read in the 10^th paragraph ... only to see the state Senate pass it in August 2009 ... instead of ... only to approve it after the Senate passed it in August 2009…. A corrected story follows.

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--The California Assembly has put on hold the proposed ban on the sale of children’s goods containing bisphenol A (BPA) until it reconvenes for a second round of voting on Thursday.

On first balloting, the legislative bill garnered 31 votes in favor of its passage, with 29 were against the bill and 19 abstained from voting, based on a statement issued to ICIS news late on Wednesday by the office of state Senator Fran Pavley.

“We need 41 votes to pass.  The bill is now on call, which means it is on hold. When the Assembly reconvenes at 8pm (Pacific time) they will lift the call on the bill and everyone will vote again,” the statement read.

“Depending on what happens then, we can either put the bill on call again tomorrow for one final chance, or we may decide against that and will then bring the bill back next year,” it added.

California was trying to pass a bill that will ban polycarbonate BPA in children’s sippy cups, baby bottles and similar goods marketed toward children aged 3 and younger. There were various studies linking BPA to heart disease, cancer and reproductive problems.

If the bill passes, California would be the third and largest state in the US to implement the BPA ban.

The chemical, a building block for polycarbonate (PC) and epoxy resins, is found in a myriad of products. PC makers have said the goods falling under the ban make up about 5% of their total market.

Minnesota, Connecticut and various cities and counties imposed their own bans earlier this year.

The six largest baby bottle manufacturers in the US promised to stop selling products containing BPA, as did several retailers, including Wal-Mart.

But establishing the ban in California - the largest state economy in the US - was particularly contentious. The Assembly voted against the ban in September 2008, only to see the state Senate pass it in August 2009.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC), Grocery Manufacturers Association and International Formula Council opposed the ban, saying more study is needed on BPA’s health effects.

Pearl Bantillo contributed to this article

For more information on BPA and PC, visit ICIS chemical intelligence
To discuss issues facing the chemical industry, go to ICIS connect

By: Ben Lefebvre
+1 713 525 2653

For the latest chemical news, data and analysis that directly impacts your business sign up for a free trial to ICIS news - the breaking online news service for the global chemical industry.

Get the facts and analysis behind the headlines from our market leading weekly magazine: sign up to a free trial to ICIS Chemical Business.

Printer Friendly