Senator Feinstein Vows Senate Vote on BPA Measure

The FDA announced earlier this year that it would review BPA's health effects, though the agency is not expected to conclude its study until next year. In the meantime, Senator Feinstein is promising action.

August 17, 2010

WASHINGTON - Senator Dianne Feinstein promised last week to pursue a vote on banning bisphenol A (BPA) from children's food and drink containers after a bipartisan deal on food safety legislation was reached that omitted restrictions on the chemical, the New York Times reports.

The food safety agreement, which would expand the FDA's inspection powers, was slowed after a prolonged debate over how to address BPA. After senior members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee released text of an agreement that lacked language on the chemical--thus paving the wave for a Senate floor debate on the bill--Feinstein vowed to move forward with an amendment.

"I believe that we need legislation to protect consumers, especially babies and toddlers, from harmful chemicals," Feinstein said. "Because of their smaller size and stage of development, babies and children are particularly at risk from the harmful health effects of BPA."

The FDA announced earlier this year that it would review BPA's health effects, though the agency is not expected to conclude its study until next year.
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