AUGUSTA — The Maine House of Representatives overwhelmingly endorsed a proposed ban of the chemical bisphenol-A in children’s products, such as sippy cups and baby bottles during a vote today.
The ban on BPA, which many studies have shown as an endocrine disruptor, was the first proposal to work its way through the chemical regulation process created by 2008’s Kids Safe Product Act.
The Republican-controlled House voted 145 to 3 to approve the ban, LD 412, which had been unanimously passed by a legislative panel. Three House Republican freshmen voted to oppose the measure – state Reps. Larry Dunphy of Embden, Beth O’Connor of Berwick and Heather Sirocki of Scarborough.
“The reason why I do not support this bill is not because I think BPA is safe; rather, I support keeping BPA in the marketplace because it is a well-known additive and I am not convinced that a safe alternative is market ready,” Sirocki said on the House floor just prior to the vote.
Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, said he’s not convinced BPA is dangerous and opposes the ban. He raised the profile of the issue and garnered national attention when he joked that the worst-case side effect of BPA was women growing “little beards.”
The Senate will schedule a vote on the measure soon.
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