Relates to thermal paper receipts containing bisphenol-A

2 Co-sponsors

• Tony Avella
• Terry Gipson

BILL NUMBER:S3608

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the use of thermal paper receipts or cash receipt paper containing bisphenol-A

Purpose

To expand current law to prohibit the manufacturing, selling or offering for sale or to distribute any thermal receipt paper or cash register paper that contains bisphenol-A.

Summary of provisions

This bill defines thermal receipt paper and cash register paper as well as prohibits anyone from manufacturing, selling or offering for sale or to distribute any paper for recording or trans- actions that contains bisphenol-A.

Justification

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor that mimics the hormone estrogen and is linked to breast cancer, early onset of puberty, obesity and prostate cancer. It also affects male reproductive systems.

New York residents are regularly exposed to EPA in cash register receipts used by major retailers, grocery stores, gas stations and bank ATM's. Retail workers carry an average of 30% more BPA in their bodies than other adults. BPA on thermal paper isn't chemically bound since it is a powdery film on the surface of receipts. The BPA coating easily rubs off onto fingers and then potentially onto food and can also pene- trate the skin.

Cash receipts with BPA regularly become part of the paper recycling stream, thus adding BPA to 95% of dollar bills as well as to paper towels and other consumer paper products.

This potentially damaging source of BPA cannot be allowed to remain in the marketplace, where everyone is being exposed unknowingly.

Legislative history

2011-12: S. 4903 Environmental Conservation

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This bill shall take effect on October 1, 2015.