What U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein thinks about Bisphenol A (BPA)

Dear Mrs. Walton:

Thank you for writing to express your support for the "Household Product Labeling Act." I appreciate hearing your thoughts about this legislation, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

On September 23, 2009, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) introduced the "Household Product Labeling Act" (S. 1697), which would require household cleaning products to have labels that list all of their ingredients to inform consumers whether or not the product contains potentially harmful chemicals. Current law requires that product labels list immediately hazardous ingredients, but there is no labeling requirement for ingredients that may cause harm over time. The bill is currently being reviewed by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Although I am not a member of this Committee, I will keep your support in mind should S. 1697, or similar legislation, come before the full Senate.

Please know that I share your concern about the potential environmental and public health impacts of toxic chemicals, and I agree that consumers should have the information necessary to make an informed choice about the products they bring into their homes. I also believe that the United States should take a precautionary approach and determine the safety of all consumer products and chemical additives before they are distributed to the public. These potentially toxic chemicals should not be placed in products until they are tested and found to be benign.

It may interest you to know that I have introduced the "Ban Poisonous Additives Act" (S. 593). This bill would ban the use of Bisphenol A (BPA) - which has been found to be potentially dangerous to human development and reproduction - in all food and beverages containers. Additionally, in August 2008, President George W. Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Act (P.L. 110-314), which includes a provision I drafted to ban phthalates from children's toys and childcare items. Exposure to phthalates can interfere with the endocrine system and can cause other severe, long-term health effects.

Again, thank you for your letter. I hope you will continue to contact me on issues that are important to you. If you have any further questions, please contact my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3841. Best regards.

Sincerely yours,
Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator