State of Minnesota, USA, Bans PFAS in Food Packages

In June 2021, the governor of the US state of Minnesota signed SF 20 into law to prohibit perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging. The new law amends the state’s Statutes by adding the new Section 325F.075 ‘Food Packaging; PFAS’.

According to the definitions in the new law, ‘PFAS’ and ‘Food Package’ have the following meanings:

• ‘PFAS’ means a family of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully carbon atom
• ‘Food package’ means a container applied to or providing a means to market, protect, handle, deliver, serve, contain, or store a food or beverage. This includes:
  •  A unit package, an intermediate package, and a shipping container
  • Unsealed receptables, including but not limited to bags, bowls, carrying cases, crates, cups, pails, plates, rigid foil and other trays, tubs as well as wrappers and wrapping films
  • An individual assembled part of a food package, such as any interior or exterior blocking, bracing, cushioning, weatherproofing, exterior strapping, coatings, closures, inks, and labels. 

Highlights of the new law are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1

Minnesota now joins a host of jurisdictions across the US in regulating PFAS in food contact materials and articles. These include Connecticut, Maine, New York, San Francisco, Vermont and Washington (SafeGuardS94/21, 89/19, 72/21 and 29/21)

SGS technical experts have extensive knowledge and testing experience in materials and articles in contact with food. They work to ensure that your products meet the appropriate regulations for food contact materials, paving the way for compliance. From overall migration tests to expert advice on emerging regulations, compliance issues and documentation review, SGS is the partner to trust. In the end, it’s only trusted because it’s tested. Discover more on our website and read our brochure.

For inquiries, please contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
t: +852 2774 7420 

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