News | California passes bill AB652 to ban the sale of youth products containing PFAS

On October 5, 2021, the Governor of California approved bill AB652. From July 1, 2023, it is prohibited to sell or distribute any new (not previously owned) youth products containing regulated PFAS in California.

The key definitions of the bill are as follows

"Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS" refer to fluorinated organic chemical substances containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.

"Controlled perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "regulated PFAS" refers to PFAS that is deliberately added by the manufacturer to the product and has a functional or technical impact on the product, including but not limited to deliberately added The PFAS components in chemicals and PFAS are deliberate decomposition products of added chemicals, which also have functional or technical effects on the product. Or the content in the product or product component reaches or exceeds 100 ppm (calculated as total organic fluorine).

"Juvenile products" refer to products designed for use by babies and children under 12 years of age, including but not limited to foam pillows for babies or toddlers, cradles, bedside sleeping bags, booster seats, changing mats, and those used in motor vehicles and airplanes Child restraint system, baby extra bed, crib mattress, floor play mat, high chair, high chair cushion, baby rocking chair, baby carrier, baby seat, baby sleep locator, baby swing, baby travel bed, baby learning Walker, nap bed, nursing pad, nursing pillow, play mat, playpen, play bed, polyurethane foam pad, mat or pillow, portable foam nap pad, portable baby sleeping bed, portable hook chair, soft-sided portable crib, baby Car and mattress for toddlers.

The following products are specifically excluded from the requirements:

1. Children’s electronic products, including but not limited to personal computers, audio and video equipment, calculators, wireless phones, game consoles, handheld devices with video screens, or any related peripheral equipment, such as a mouse, keyboard, power supply or power cable

2. Medical equipment

3. Adult mattress

4. The internal components of adolescent products that will not directly touch children's skin or mouth during a reasonably foreseeable use and abuse process

The bill also requires manufacturers to use the least toxic alternatives when replacing PFAS chemicals in juvenile products.