Bill Overcomes Intense Lobbying Effort by Chemical Industry

SACRAMENTO, CA. – The California State Assembly today passed the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act, AB 1319, by Assemblymember Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey), which seeks to ban the toxic chemical Bisphenol-A (BPA) in baby bottles and other feeding products for children.

“I am very pleased that my measure to protect children and infants passed the State Assembly. The science on BPA shows cause for alarm and it’s a shame that we have failed to protect our most vulnerable citizens from this toxic chemical,” said Assemblymember Betsy Butler. “Every child from every community in our state deserves access to safe products. This is a fight worth having because big chemical money should not be allowed to trump the health of babies in California.”

The bill would limit the amount of BPA allowed in baby bottles, sippy cups, infant formula and baby food. Specifically, it would prohibit the manufacture, sale, or distribution of the above products designed for children 3 and younger that contain more than 0.1 parts per billion (ppb) of BPA. The bill would not affect any other consumer products.

BPA is an artificial hormone that is widely used in shatter-proof plastic baby bottles, sippy cups and the lining of formula cans. It leaches out of containers and into food and has linked BPA to a host of health problems, including breast and prostate cancer, infertility, obesity, and neurological and behavioral changes, including autism and hyperactivity.

Dr. Shannon Udovic, Advocacy Co-Chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics of California, said, “The Academy representing over 5,000 board-certified pediatrician members of the four regional AAP Chapters statewide, is pleased to support Assemblymember Butler’s legislation, AB 1319. This bill would establish the Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act to help protect children from Bispenol-A (BPA) by restricting the use of BPA in certain baby products.”

If AB 1319 is signed into law, California will join Canada, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington state and several other cities and counties in the United States that, with significant bi-partisan support, have enacted bans on BPA in baby bottles and other feeding products for children.

In addition, several key federal agencies and scientific bodies have stated official concern about the safety of BPA including the National Institutes of Health (National Toxicology Program), Food and Drug Administration, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the President’s Cancer Panel.

Assemblymember Butler’s Toxin-Free Infants and Toddlers Act, AB 1319, is co-authored by Senators Ellen Corbett, Kevin De León, Mark Leno, Carol Liu, and Fran Pavley and Assemblymembers Tom Ammiano, Bob Blumenfield, Steven Bradford, Julia Brownley, Nora Campos, Mike Davis, Roger Dickinson, Mike Eng, Paul Fong, Mike Gatto, Jared Huffman, Ricardo Lara, Bonnie Lowenthal, Fiona Ma, Nancy Skinner and Das Williams.

In addition, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has announced her support along with the American Academy of Pediatrics of California, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, California Medical Association, and the California Nurses Association. The Environmental Working Group is the sponsor of the bill.

AB 1319 is now headed to the State Senate for consideration.

For more information, visit www.asmdc.org/butler.

Assemblymember Betsy Butler represents California’s 53rd Assembly District, comprised of the communities of El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Lomita, Marina del Rey, and portions of the City of Los Angeles.