Chicago on Wednesday became the first U.S. city to adopt a ban on the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups containing the chemical BPA.
Chicago on Wednesday became the first U.S. city to adopt a ban on the sale of baby bottles and sippy cups containing the chemical BPA. The Chicago City Council approved the ban on a 48-0 vote. It is slated to take effect Jan. 31, 2010. "This is an important step in a landmark consumer protection initiative. This legislation will protect Chicago’s children and send a clear message to other jurisdictions considering similar legislation," said Alderman Manny Flores, co-sponsor of the measure. BPA is short for bisphenol A (BIS’-fen-ahl AY’). It’s used to harden plastics in many consumer products including CDs, sports safety equipment and reusable bottles. It’s also present in some food container linings. Experts disagree on whether it poses health risks to humans, but some manufacturers of baby bottles have voluntarily removed it because of safety questions. "We should err on the side of caution and not needlessly expose people to the harmful effects, especially children," said Alderman Edward Burke, the measure’s other sponsor. Some scientists and environmental advocates argue that BPA can mimic hormones and cause reproductive problems in children, but the chemicals industry says BPA-containing consumer products pose no health threat. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that FDA-approved products containing BPA that are currently on the market are safe; its review of BPA research is ongoing. Advocates say Chicago is the third jurisdiction in the country to adopt a ban. Last week, Minnesota became the first state to ban BPA from plastic baby bottles and sippy cups. And last month, a suburban New York county adopted a ban on the sale of baby bottles containing the chemical. Last year, Canada became the first country to announce plans for a similar ban. The Canadian government is drafting regulations to prohibit the importation and sale of baby bottles containing BPA, although most retailers there have already removed them from store shelves. Chicago’s ban requires Mayor Richard M. Daley’s approval and a spokeswoman said he intends to sign it. A proposed federal ban on BPA in food containers is pending in Congress, and 24 states have pending bills that would restrict BPA, said Max Muller, program director of Environment Illinois, an advocacy group that supported Chicago’s ban. He called the city’s action "a good first step. Children have the highest exposure. It’s a limited approach, but it’s targeting the most vulnerable people." The American Chemistry Council, an industry group, issued a statement saying Chicago’s ban is unwarranted. "The new Chicago law is contrary to the global consensus on the safety of BPA and ignores the expert evaluations of scientists and government bodies from around the world," the council said. Consumer Reports publisher Consumers Union, which has sought a national ban on BPA in food containers, praised Chicago for taking the lead on citywide action. "Nationwide consumers will remain at risk until federal action is taken. We are hopeful that the new leadership at FDA will act swiftly to address this important public health concern," said the group’s Urvashi Rangan. Chicago’s ordinance requires retailers to post notices declaring that products they sell do not contain BPA. Violators could be fined up to $100 or more per offense and could lose their licenses. ______ Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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