Washington State BPA bill fails

The Washington State Legislature finished their session April 26 with the Senate failing to take action on a bill to eliminate the hormone disrupting chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles and sippy cups.

Opponents of the bill included the chemical industry trade group, the American Chemistry Council, and Wal-Mart.

Last year, Wal-Mart received kudos from parents, consumers, and health advocates for agreeing to phase out the sale of BPA-containing baby bottles in its stores. Yet, Wal-Mart attempted to amend the bill to allow the same baby bottles it pledged to remove from its stores to remain on store shelves.

“Wal-Mart’s attempt to severely undermine the bill is outrageous,” said Ivy Sager-Rosenthal, campaign director for the Washington Toxics Coalition. “If Wal-Mart is remaining true to their pledge to stop selling BPA baby bottles, they had no reason to oppose the bill.”

Sponsored by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson (D-36) and Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33), the Safe Baby Bottle Act (SSB 5282) passed overwhelmingly in the House, 76-21, earlier in session, but failed to squeak by before Sunday’s constitutionally imposed session deadline.

“The Senate missed an opportunity to take bisphenol A off store shelves and out of babies’ mouths,” said  Sager-Rosenthal. “The science is clear. Bisphenol A does not belong in baby bottles or our children. We’re confident the chemical’s days are numbered.”