Read the full article by Amanda Ulrich (Chemical Watch)
“Legislation would restrict substance class in food packaging, carpets
A Vermont bill that seeks to restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in consumer products like food packaging and rugs has moved forward in the state legislature.
The bill (S 295) would ban the manufacture, sale and distribution of food packaging that contains intentionally added PFASs, and place similar restrictions on residential rugs and carpets containing the substances, according to an amended version of the measure that was recommended in the Senate on 24 March.
Among other provisions, it would add the full PFAS class of chemicals to the list of those deemed to be chemicals of ‘high concern’ for children, which would trigger new reporting requirements for juvenile products.
Most class B firefighting foams containing PFAS would also be restricted under the amended legislation, with some exceptions.
Altogether, Vermont’s bill would go beyond restrictions being added or considered in a number of other states, which generally have focused on banning the substance in firefighting foams. Washington Governor Jay Inslee earlier this month signed into law an expansion on that state’s current restrictions on firefighting foam containing PFASs.
In addition to addressing PFASs, the most recent version of Vermont’s legislation would also impose restrictions on food packaging additives containing phthalates above “incidental” amounts, and allow the state’s health department to adopt rules that would place similar bans on such packaging containing bisphenols…”