SG 120.22
California will become the first state in the U.S. to ban the use of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) chemicals on apparel and textile products, starting January 2025.
The California Safer Clothes and Textiles Act (AB 1817) was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on September 30, 2022. This bill prohibits any person from manufacturing, distributing, selling, or offering for sale in the state, any new not previously owned textile articles that contain PFAS, and requires a manufacturer to use the least toxic alternative when removing regulated PFAS in textile articles. It also requires manufacturers to provide those persons that offer the product for sale or distribution in the state with a certificate of compliance stating that the textile article is in compliance with the provisions and does not contain any regulated PFAS.
Bill AB 1817 bans PFAS in most clothing (including outdoor apparel) and textiles starting on January 1, 2025. It defines textiles and textile articles broadly, as those products which are ordinarily used in households and businesses, including, but not limited to, apparel, accessories, handbags, backpacks, draperies, shower curtains, furnishings, upholstery, beddings, towels, napkins and tablecloths. Exempted items include carpets, rugs, treatments containing PFAS for use on converted textiles or leathers and protective equipment used in critical functions, such as firefighting or for industrial applications of textiles.
The Bill prohibits the sale of items with PFAS at 100 parts per million (ppm), or more, as measured in total organic fluorine in 2025. This threshold will drop to 50 ppm from 2027. Outdoor apparel made for severe wet conditions has an extension until 2028, but beginning January 1, 2025, manufacturers will have to disclose the presence of PFAS on their products with the statement “Made with PFAS chemicals”.
PFAS are commonly used in the textile industry for products including apparel, footwear, bedding, draperies and upholstery, to provide water, grease or stain repellent or resistant properties. However, PFAS are a family of synthetic chemicals that have been linked to health problems including kidney and liver damage, decreased immune system function, interference with vaccine uptake, developmental and reproductive harm, and increased risk of cancer and asthma. They are referred to as “forever chemicals” because their resistance to breaking down makes them persistent and bioaccumulative in the natural environment and human body. Nowadays, safer alternative chemicals which provide comparative repellent properties are available.
SGS Global Softlines has an extensive network of over 40 laboratories worldwide, with a strong team of committed professionals from multi-disciplinary backgrounds. Our internationally accredited state-of-the-art testing laboratories offer a comprehensive range of physical, chemical and functional testing services for components, materials and finished products. We help your company ensure quality, performance and compliance with international, industrial and regulatory standards worldwide. Discover more at www.sgs.com/softlines.
For enquiries, please contact:
Louann Spirito
Consumer and Retail — Softlines
US & Canada Softlines Business Head
t: +1 973 461 7919
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