SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment has removed Bisphenol A, or BPA, from its list of Proposition 65 toxic chemicals.
The move came following an April 18 preliminary injunction to delist the chemical pending final resolution of a Sacramento County Superior court case, in which the American Chemistry Council argues that the state agency hasn't made a strong enough case for Proposition 65 listing.
Earlier this month, the stated added BPA to its list of Proposition 65 chemicals known to the state to cause reproductive toxicity. Prop 65 is a state law requiring point-of-sale notification by manufacturers to consumers of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer, birth defects or from reproductive harm.
Concerns have increased in recent years about the BPA's potential as a hormone disruptor.
American Home Furnishings Alliance officials have said the chemical is used in furniture containing synthetic laminates and possibly some foil or paper construction or powder or UV coatings.
Proposition 65, a law passed in 1986, doesn't require elimination of the chemical, but allows citizen plaintiffs to cite companies for lack of proper notice for listed chemicals.
This year, about 140 notices have been filed against furniture suppliers and retailers for violations of Prop 65 stemming from TDCPP, or tris phosphate, a flame retardant.
Once a chemical is listed, businesses have 12 months to comply with warning requirements.
