Washington, D.C. - Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) expressed his support for the Chicago City Council’s decision today to pass the nation’s first municipal ban on the sale of baby bottles and cups that contain the chemical bisphenol-A, known as BPA.  Rep. Markey reintroduced the Ban Poisonous Additives Act on March 13, 2009 to prohibit the chemical Bisphenol A in all food and beverage containers. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

“It is clear that BPA poses serious health risks, especially to children,” said Rep. Markey. “Chicago’s decision adds to the momentum building across the country in support of a nationwide ban. Congress should quickly ban this toxin from all food and beverage containers so that parents can feed their children without worrying about poisonous chemicals.”  

Rep. Markey is a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Food and Drug Administration. Rep. Markey first authored a bill to ban BPA in food and beverage containers last year before reintroducing his bill this Spring.