Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy signs into law, April 2, 2009 – The Toxins Free Toddlers and Babies Act
We’re on the move!!!! There’s
no stopping us now…
Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy announced
on April 2, 2009 that he has signed the first in the nation
ban on the sale of baby bottles and cups containing Bisphenol-A.
BPA is a chemical used to make the plastic materials clear
and shatter-resistant.
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Suffolk County Legislator Steve Stern who sponsored this
bill worked very closely with Huntington Breast Cancer
Action Coalition, Great Neck Breast Cancer Coalition,
Childcare Council of Suffolk County, Learning Disabilities
Association of N.Y., NYPIRG, Long Island Teen Environmental
Activists (LITEA), members of JustGreen Partnership, Consumer
Union, Nursing Health Professionals of Nassau and Suffolk,
and many breast cancer organization partners, noted “Suffolk
County has always taken the lead in protecting public
health.” “We must follow the precautionary
principle and be pro-active, especially when the health
of our most vulnerable citizens, our babies and young
children, is at risk and safe alternatives are available.
I thank County Executive Steve Levy for signing this important
measure, which will reduce unnecessary exposure to a substance
linked with multiple health risks. I am particularly pleased
to support Senator Schumer’s efforts in addressing
this important issue to ensure the health and safety of
our most vulnerable nationwide.”
Suffolk County well known for spearheading
landmark legislation that protects the health and safety
of our community, is guided by strong leadership. S.C.
Executive Steve Levy continues to focus on preventions
as a priority, “In this day and age of prevention,
we owe it to our youngsters to minimize their exposure
to potentially harmful products, especially when there
are safe, toxin-free alternatives readily available,”
said Levy. “Of all the things a parent must worry
about, whether or not their child is being harmed by a
baby bottle should not be one of them.”
U.S. Senator Charles Schumer continues to
maintain a steady partnership with the breast cancer community
and most recently introduced a federal ban on BPA.
Levy and Stern
are pictured with Schumer, who earlier this week
announced he is filing a federal ban on the product,
and are flanked by health advocates and environmental
officials (l-r): Helene Aronson, Suffolk County
Child Care Council; Pat LaCata West Islip Breast
Cancer Coalition; MaryJoan Shea, Huntington Breast
Cancer Action Coalition; Laura Weinberg, Great
Neck Breast Cancer Coalition, William Zhou, Paul
D. Schreiber H.S. & Great Neck Breast Cancer
Coalition; Karen Joy Miller, Huntington Breast
Cancer Action Coalition; Stephen Boese, Learning
Disabilities Association - New York; Donna Jurasits,
Babylon Breast Cancer Coalition; Dr. Humayun Chaudhry,
Suffolk Health Commissioner; and Carrie Meek Gallagher,
Suffolk Commissioner of Environment and Energy.
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