In an article published on July 23, 2020, law firm Earth Justice reported that the legislature for the US state of New York has passed a bill that will ban all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging sold or distributed in the state. Passed by the state House and Senate chambers as bills A.4739-C and S.8817, the ban would become effective at the start of 2023.
Eve Gartner, an attorney at Earth Justice, commented “New York has taken a giant step in protecting its residents from toxic PFAS chemicals. We will be grappling for decades with how to get PFAS out of our drinking water — and to pay the costs of that clean-up — it is just common sense to prohibit the use of PFAS in food packaging since we know that these packaging chemicals end up in our food and our bodies.”
The bill will now need to be signed by the state’s governor, Andrew Cuomo, to become law.
Read More
Earth Justice (July 23, 2020). “New York State Legislature Passed Ban on PFAS in Food Packaging.”
Olivia Jaquith (July 24, 2020). “NY legislators vote to ban PFAS chemicals in food packaging.” WENY
Kelly Franklin (July 27, 2020). “New York lawmakers vote to ban PFASs in food packaging.” Chemical Watch
