(Albany)
Advocates applauded Governor Paterson today for signing into law the
Bisphenol A-Free Children and Babies Act to end the sale of bisphenol
A-based baby bottles, sippy cups, pacifiers and straws as of December
1st of this year. Both houses
of the New York State Legislature unanimously passed at the end of
June. Today was the last day for the Governor to sign the measure.
New
York is now the seventh state - and by far the largest in both
population and economy - to pass phase out of BPA in young children's
products, joining Connecticut, Maryland, Minnesota, Vermont, Washington
and Wisconsin. It will be one of the first state laws to go into
effect, however. In addition, Maine has declared bisphenol A (BPA) as a
"priority chemical" and will institute regulations to phase out its use
in children's food and beverage containers and infant formula
containers. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is moving
forward with similar regulations to cover children's beverage
containers. California has BPA legislation pending.