The nonprofit Clean Water Action has co-sponsored or actively advocated for several state initiatives to eliminate significant uses of PFAS in products. These include:
SB 1044 (2020) As of Jan. 1, 2022, banned the use of firefighting foams containing PFAS for non-federally required uses, and required manufacturers and sellers of firefighter protective equipment to provide notice if that gear contains PFAS.
Punishable by a civil penalty in action brought by Attorney General or district attorney. Firefighting foam is a major source of PFAS in water.
AB 1200 (2021) Banned PFAS in fiber or paper-based food wrappers and containers as of Jan. 1, 2023, and require cookware manufacturers to post online the PFAS chemicals in the cookware.
As of Jan. 1, 2024, manufacturers of cookware are required to list on the cookware label the chemicals used in English and Spanish and prohibited from claiming it is PFAS-free unless it is truly chemical-free.
AB 652 (2021) Banned PFAS in new products such as booster seats, changing pads, infant carriers, crib mattresses, and play mats designed for use by infants and children under 12 years of age as of July 1, 2023. A manufacturer shall use the least toxic alternative.
State regulation on PFAS in carpets, rugs, and after-market fabric sprays (2021 and 2022) Requires all manufacturers selling such products in California to report the presence of PFAS to state regulators and then remove the PFAS, stop selling the products in this state, or provide the state with a plan to find a safer alternative to the chemicals.
This action has been supported by the decision by major retailers to stop selling carpets or rugs containing PFAS.
AB 1817 (2022) Banned PFAS in clothing and household textiles as of Jan. 1, 2025 (with a short extension for outdoor gear meant for offshore fishing, offshore sailing, whitewater kayaking, and mountaineering).
For some personal protective equipment, such as firefighting gear, alternatives to PFAS are not currently in use. Firefighters face elevated levels of exposure to PFAS through a variety of means, including gear that is treated with PFAS for its water-resistant properties, as well as through foams with PFAS.
The intention is for manufacturers of personal protective equipment, for which there are no current alternatives to PFAS, engage in product development and research to phase them out as quickly as possible.
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Legislation posted at https://legiscan.com/
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