HCR108

WHEREAS, many common ingredients used for the production of foods, textile, tools, and toys have been found to be toxic for human use or consumption; and

WHEREAS, phthalates, a class of chemicals used in polyvinyl chloride plastic to improve flexibility and in cosmetics to bind fragrance to the product, are also used in many products intended for use by infants and young children, including teethers, toys, and soft plastic books; and

WHEREAS, there is extensive scientific literature reporting the hormone-disrupting effect of phthalates and substantial evidence that levels of the phthalates of concern are found in humans at levels associated with adverse effects; and

WHEREAS, often such chemicals have a far greater devastating effect on children whose bodies are still in a rapidly developing state in this stage of life; and

WHEREAS, population studies show that virtually everyone carries some level of phthalates in their body; and

WHEREAS, for the general population, the oral route of exposure is considered a major route; and

WHEREAS, many have called for a prohibition on the manufacture, sale, or distribution of certain toys and child care articles containing bisphenol-A or specific types of phthalates in concentrations exceeding 0.1 per cent and to require manufacturers to use safer alternatives when replacing phthalates in their products; and

WHEREAS, it is also imperative for the public health, safety, and welfare to declare that aspartame and its derivative compounds, in all of their trade names, are poisonous and deleterious food additives due to their neurotoxic and carcinogenic metabolites; and

WHEREAS, federal authorities do not intend to nor have they expressed any intention to occupy and preempt areas of concern regarding the prohibition of toxic, neurotoxic, carcinogenic, poisonous, or deleterious food and product additives; and

WHEREAS, to provide more information and weigh the pros and cons of using products containing chemicals such as phthalates and aspartame, a task force should be convened to investigate the risks involved in the use and consumption of the chemicals; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2008, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health (DOH) is requested to convene a task force to investigate the risks involved in the use and consumption of phthalates, bisphenol-A, and aspartame in the products we use especially those used by young children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force include a representative of:

(1) DOH;

(2) The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs;

(3) The University of Hawaii (UH), John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM);

(4) The UH Department of Chemistry;

(5) The House of Representatives Committee on Health;

(6) The Senate Committee on Health;

(7) The House of Representatives Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce;

(8) The Senate Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection and Affordable Housing;

(9) The Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians;

(10) The Hawaii Food Industry Association; and

(11) Advocate experts (three members);

and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force explore positive and negative aspects of phthalates, bisphenol-A, and aspartame and any other potentially hazardous substances as determined by the task force; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the 2009 Regular Session on the actions taken, information gathered, and any recommendations made by the task force as well as any proposed legislation; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, Director of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Dean of JABSOM, Dean of the UH Department of Chemistry, President of the Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians, and Chairperson of the Hawaii Food Industry Association.

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title:

Toxic Chemicals in Food and Products

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	108
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2008
STATE OF HAWAII