Minnesota poised to be first state to ban BPA from baby products

A bill that would ban bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles and sippy cups passed the Minnesota State Senate last week, 55-8, and just passed the State House yesterday, 126-5. The bill was passed with outstanding bi-partisan support.

Now it’s up to Governor Pawlenty to sign the bill into law, which would make Minnesota the first state to ban BPA in baby products.

BPA is a synthetic sex hormone that leaches out of baby bottles and “sippy” cups. Emerging independent science shows that low dose exposure to BPA is linked to a variety of health problems, including breast cancer, prostate cancer, hormone disruption, early onset of puberty, ADD/ADHD and more.

“Amidst all the budget debates, I am thrilled the House could come together to pass this important bill,” said Rep. Karen Clark, the chief author of the House measure. “It shows that Minnesota is serious about protecting our children and that doing so is not a partisan matter.”

States are responding to concerns from the scientific community around BPA. Minnesota is one of 18 states with pending legislation against the chemical and could be the first state to take regulatory action, if Governor Pawlenty signs the bill.

BPA has become the “poster child” for a larger problem at hand. Chemicals are not required to be tested for safety for humans and the environment before they are allowed on the marketplace. State and federal governments lack the oversight to ensure toxic chemicals do not end up in daily consumer products like toys, cosmetics, plastics, cleaning products and more.

In response to this problem, Rep. Kate Knuth introduced the Toxic Free Kids Act, which passed a provision of the Environment Finance Omnibus bill. The bill would authorize the Minnesota Department of Health to gather information on toxic chemicals and takes a first step to create a framework to address toxics in consumer products.

Unfortunately, during conference committee, Rep. Knuth had to take out an important provision that would have required companies to report whether or not certain toxic chemicals were present in their children’s toys and advance safer alternatives. The provision was taken out in the spirit of compromise and to make the bill more palatable for Governor Pawlenty to sign.

“Minnesota has been paying the price for not addressing toxics in consumer products. Costly clean ups and worried parents were two of my motivations for moving this bill forward,” Rep. Kate Knuth said.

The Minnesota Legislature has taken important steps to protect children’s health. Now it’s up to Governor Pawlenty to make it law.