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Things are looking pretty good on the legislative front. We’ve got a long way to go, but with the continued support of parents like you, we’re making amazing strides in our efforts to make this world a healthier place.

• Canada braves the ban. Our neighbor to the north reviewed 150 worldwide studies on BPA and became the first country to take a definitive position on the health risks of BPA, officially declaring it toxic to humans. The Canadian government is currently taking steps to ban the importation and sale of baby bottles made with BPA polycarbonate. 
• On April 1, 2008, Washington State Governor Chris Gregoire signed the Children’s Safe Products Act (House Bill 2647) into law. The Act is widely considered the country’s most strict toy safety law so far. Scheduled to go into effect in the summer of 2009, the law is intended to cut the amount of cadmium, lead, and phthalates in toys as well as children’s jewelry, car seats and other items. Learn more at SafeToys.com.

• On April 17th, Governor Baldacci of Maine signed into law LD 2048 (HP 1432). "An Act To Protect Children's Health and the Environment from Toxic Chemicals in Toys and Children's Products". Despite industry lobbying, the bill passed almost unanimously.
• DecaBDE, the only PBDE still on the market in North America, was banned April 1st by the European Court of Justice. Stateside, Maine has banned the use of decaBDE in mattresses and residential upholstered furniture produced and sold in that state, and will extend the ban to electronics in 2010. Washington prohibits the use of decaBDE in mattresses and set a process for a future ban in furniture and electronics if the state can identify a safer and feasible alternative that meets fire safety standards. California, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Vermont, Connecticut have pending legislation. See how industry is pushing against the bills on CBS News.
• Canadian officials have proposed a labeling bill which would require everyday products from cosmetics to cleaners to have ingredients listed along with potential hazard info. The right-to-know bill introduced on May 29th by Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian "will help Canadians make more informed decisions about their own, and their children's health," Mae Burrows of Toxic Free Canada and Michel Arnold of Option-Consommateurs said in a joint statement issued from Ottawa.
• The phthalate ban grows…The European Union banned three forms of phthalates from children's items in 2005 and restricted three others. Canada has not used phthalates in children's products since 1998, and California introduced a similar ban in October. To date, California, Vermont, and Washington have banned the use of phthalates in toys and childcare products. This year, over a dozen other states introduced legislation to ban phthalates in toys.

Currently pending in US Congress…

• The BPA-Free Kids Act introduced by Senator Schumer (D-NY) on April 29th would ban BPA from products intended for children 7 and under. It has been referred to the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
• The Kids Safe Chemical Act that would overhaul how the US regulates chemicals in everyday products was introduced May 20 and referred to Committee on Environment and Public Works. You can follow its progress  and learn more about the details of the legislation.
• The House and Senate are currently working in a joint conference committee to overhaul the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which has been under intense scrutiny after millions of toys imported from China were recalled because of concerns they were contaminated with lead. The Feinstein Toxic Toy Amendment, which has been added to this process, is making good progress. It is in committee and on June 10th an informational hearing was held to review phthalates and BPA. The hearing was a big step in the right direction because it is the first of its kind at the federal level and will legitimize the discussion of banning these chemicals. Eighty-seven legislators from 28 states have signed on to a letter to the conferees in support of the Feinstein toxic toys amendment. In addition, 60 organizations have stated their support for the amendment in a letter to legislators. The House conferees are beginning to take notice and talk seriously about this issue. Hopefully, the winds are shifting in our direction.

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