Senate Bill to Ban BPA in Baby Feeding Items Introduced

January 28, 2011 by Karen Marzullo|Congress

On January 25, 2011, Senator Feinstein¹ (D) introduced the Ban Poisonous Additives Act of 2011 (S. 136), a bill that would establish a federal ban on the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles, sippy cups, baby food, and infant formula.

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(BPA is used in a wide variety of consumer products, including food containers, water bottles and baby bottles.)

Would Ban Use of BPA in Children’s Feeding Products, Etc.

According to a press release from Senator Feinstein, S. 136 would:

Ban the use of BPA in children’s feeding products including baby bottles, sippy cups, baby food, and infant formula (largely because infants and children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of BPA).
Require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a revised safety assessment on BPA by December 1, 2012.
Include a savings clause to allow states to enact stronger legislation.

Feinstein Introduced Bill in 2009 to Ban BPA in All Food & Beverage Containers

Feinstein introduced more comprehensive legislation in the 111th Congress, but it was not enacted. This bill would have established a federal ban on BPA in all food and beverage containers. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 03/18/09 news, 09031825, for BP summary of Feinstein’s 2009 bill (S. 593).)

Feinstein also attempted to have a BPA provision added to the recently enacted Food Safety Bill; however, that provision was not enacted.

(See ITT’s Online Archives or 04/28/10 news, 10042844, for BP summary of opposition by over 50 association to a BPA ban being included in the food safety bill. See ITT’s Online Archives or 01/04/11 news, 11010426, for comprehensive summary of enacted food safety bill.)

House Bill Re-Introduced to Ban BPA in Food & Beverage Containers

Representative Markey (D) also reintroduced legislation (H.R. 432) on January 25, 2011, which would prohibit the use of the chemical BPA in all food and beverage containers, including baby bottles. (See ITT’s Online Archives or 01/27/11 news, 11012809, for BP summary of press release on this reintroduced measure.)

¹And co-sponsors Senators Franken (D), Kerry (D), Sanders (I), and Schumer (D).