Maine Receives Authority to Investigate “Chemicals of High Concern” in Consumer Products
Published: 4 August 2008
Category: Bisphenol A (BPA), Packaging CONCERNS, Phthalates, Studies/Federal Regulations
“Reuters” reports the majority leader of Maine’s House of Representatives has sponsored legislation that gave the state the authority to broadly identify and investigate “chemicals of high concern” in consumer products, particularly those that may reach children. Potentially harmful chemicals include phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), both of which are used in the manufacture of certain types of plastic containers. The bill, signed into law in April, could serve as a model for other states trying to fill a regulatory void left by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).