Maine news, sports, weather | Kennebec Journal, Augusta, Maine

STATE HOUSE

Panel OKs ban on products containing BPA

By Rebekah Metzler rmetzler@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer

AUGUSTA — A legislative panel voted unanimously to approve a ban the sales of toys, sippy cups, baby bottles and similar products containing the chemical bisphenol A, or BPA, after a lengthy public hearing on Friday.

No one among the about 30 people who testified before the Environment and Natural Resources Committee opposed the ban. It was the first such chemical ban on products to come as a result of a 2008 law known as the Kids Safe Product Act, which established an extensive process of review for chemical regulation.

Despite expressing opposition to the proposed ban earlier this year, Gov. Paul LePage’s administration has abandoned its effort to block it, according to the testimony of Maine Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Darryl Brown.

“We support scientific inquiries into the examination of safer alternatives regarding certain chemicals and compounds; and as is the case with BPA, we believe the marketplace is already moving toward safer alternatives,” he said. “Our first choice is to always encourage market forces to undertake actions voluntarily and not jump to a prohibition on sales of certain products.”

BPA has been studied extensively by public health advocates, toxicologists and scientists in Maine and elsewhere. Most studies have concluded that the endocrine-disrupting chemical poses cancer risks to children and pregnant women. Multinational companies including Wal-Mart, Toys R Us and Gerber already are phasing out the sale of BPA-containing bottles.

Previously, LePage, a Republican, had listed repealing the BPA ban as part of an initial proposal he submitted to lawmakers aimed at improving Maine’s business climate.

He also generated national headlines by saying he had not seen any scientific evidence to support concerns about BPA and made a joke that the worst-case effect of the chemical would result in some women growing “little beards.”

When asked about the administration’s change in position, Brown said he had spoken with the governor about the issue.

“The testimony that I have presented today has also been provided to the governor’s office with no adverse comments; and again, I want to stress that this is the position that the department has taken,” he said.

Late on Friday, the governor’s press office issued a statement that said LePage himself still opposes the ban.

“Gov. LePage continues to believe, absent consensus science supporting product prohibitions, the BPA rule developed by the last administration should not go into effect,” said Adrienne Bennett, LePage’s press secretary in a written statement.

State Sen. Seth Goodall, D-Richmond, said he was pleasantly surprised with the administration’s change in position.

“More reasonable voices prevailed inthe governor’s office,” said Matt Prindiville of the Natural Resources Council of Maine.

Environmentalists, scientists and concerned citizens turned out in support of the ban, which would take effect Jan. 1, 2012, and be targeted specifically at children’s products. At least eight other states and several other countries already have banned BPA from baby bottles.

Maureen Drouin, representing Maine’s Environmental Priorities Coalition, said the BPA ban was one of the group’s top legislative priorities.

“We all have a stake in helping kids and families stay healthy,” she said. “Preventing disease is a smart investment because kids do better in school, healthy workers are more productive, and lower health costs are good for everyone.”

Others representing a variety of business interests, such as the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the Maine Beverage Association, Maine Grocers Association and the Maine Merchants Association joined the administration in testifying neither for nor against the measure.

However, many raised concerns about the underlying law, the Kids Safe Product Act, which will be the subject of a public hearing on Monday.

The full Legislature is expected to schedule votes on the legislation in the coming weeks.

Rebekah Metzler — 620-7016
rmetzler@mainetoday.com