Following the recent findings of toxic chemicals in baby products, California lawmakers may enact statewide restrictions on a chemical found in plastic baby bottles and infant formula cans.

The new bill would require that all products or food containers designed for children 3 years and younger contain only trace amounts of the chemical, bisphenol A.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys "R" Us Inc. say they will stop selling baby bottles made with the chemical next year, and the maker of the hard-plastic Nalgene water bottles announced in April that it would stop using the chemical.

Canada has announced it intends to ban the use of Bisphenol A in baby bottles.

Bisphenol A can disrupt the hormonal system and cause changes in behavior and the brain, and that it may reduce survival and birth weight in fetuses - even at very low doses.

Bisphenol A is found in dental sealants, the linings of food cans, CDs and DVDs, eyeglasses and hundreds of other household goods.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration opposes the bill saying that there was no reason for consumers to stop using products that contain the chemical.

The American Chemistry Council also has been lobbying against it. "Many common, everyday products could disappear from grocery stores all across California," says a mailer sent out by the council.

At least 11 other American states have considered bills to restrict it.

Manufacturers of baby food and beverages intended for young children would have to reduce the chemical in their packaging to 0.5 parts per billion by 2012, a standard now being met in Japan.

Baby bottles and cups could have just 0.1 parts per billion or less of the chemical beginning Jan. 1.

Gov. Schwarzenegger signed legislation last year banning a common chemical known as phthalates in baby products and toys.

The Schwarzenegger administration created a "green chemistry" initiative in 2007 to study how California should regulate chemicals, an approach favored by industry and many scientists.

Now, that's what you'd expect from former Kindergarden Cop! 

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