US - Vermont Restricts PFAS in Food Packaging and Certain Consumer Products

​Vermont Bill S.20 was signed into law on May 18 restricting perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in certain products, including food packaging, domestic use rug and carpet, ski wax, firefighting foams and firefighting personal protective equipments (PPE).

The Act restricts food package to which PFAS and also phthalates have been intentionally added and are present in any amount, effective July 1, 2023. Bisphenols may also be restricted using in food package as long as there is a safer alternative available in sufficient quantity and at a comparable cost and that alternative has the same or a better performance in a specific application. There will have two-year transition period for the bisphenols replacement.

It also restricts residential rug and carpet, aftermarket stain or water resistent treatment for rugs or carpets as well as ski wax or related tuning products containing PFAS which are intentionally added in any amount, effective July 1, 2023. This prohibition, however, does not apply to the sale or resale of used products.

The following PFAS are added to the Chemicals of High Concern to Children (CHCC) with the effective date July 1, 2022 which means mandatory reporting will be required if they are found in children's products.

- PFHxS (perfluorohexane sulfonic acid)
- PFHpA (perfluoroheptanoic acid)
- PFNA (perfluorononanoic acid)

Furthermore, the act also has provision regulating intentionally added PFAS in class B firefighting foam and PPE in any amount. A written notice shall be provided at the time of sale if the PPE contains PFAS.