In an article published on August 27, 2018, by regulatory news provider Chemical Watch, reporter Tammy Lovell informed that the U.S. City of San Francisco will ban single-use food service ware containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). In the beginning of August 2018, San Francisco’s mayor approved Ordinance No. 201-18 which amends the city’s existing Environmental Code on single-use food ware plastics, toxic chemicals, and litter reduction.
The new law will affect single-use articles such as bowls, plates, trays, cups, lids, straws, and utensils, demanding they be “fluorinated chemical free.” Accessories such as condiment packets, chopsticks, cup sleeves, napkins, stirrers, and toothpicks are also covered by the amendment. The new rules will enter into force on January 1, 2020, and require restaurants, food retailers, vendors, city contractors, and city departments to comply.
In March 2018, the Food Safety Alliance for Packaging (FSAP) published the “Food packaging product stewardship considerations,” featuring a list of chemicals, including PFASs, that should be replaced or reduced in food packaging (FPF reported). In the same month, the U.S. State of Washington passed a law banning the use of PFASs in food packaging by 2022 if alternatives are available (FPF reported). In May 2018, the U.S. State of New York approved a measure to restrict state agency purchasing of food containers containing PFASs or polystyrene (FPF reported). The non-profit organization Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families’ (SCHF) announced that it will focus on chemicals of high concern such as PFASs in its efforts to help retailers phase-out harmful chemicals (FPF reported). The non-profit organization BizNGO recently published a guide to purchasing PFAS-free food service ware together with a fact sheet explaining the hazards of PFASs (FPF reported).
Read more
Tammy Lovell (August 27, 2018). “San Francisco bans single-use food service ware containing PFASs.” Chemical Watch
City and County of San Francisco (August 10, 2018). “Ordinance No. 201-18.” (pdf)
