California has passed the ab652 act to prohibit the sale of youth products containing PFAS

On October 5, 2021, the governor of California approved act ab652, which prohibits the sale or distribution of any new (not previously owned) youth products containing regulated PFAS after July 1, 2023.

The key definitions of the act are as follows:

"Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS" means fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.

"Controlled perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "controlled PFAS" refers to PFAS intentionally added to the product by the manufacturer and having functional or technical impact on the product, including but not limited to PFAS components in intentionally added chemicals, and PFAS is an intentional decomposition product of added chemicals and also has functional or technical impact on the product.

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The content in the product or product parts reaches or exceeds 100 ppm (calculated as total organic fluorine).

"Juvenile Product" means a product designed for use by infants and children under 12 years of age, including, but not limited to, a baby or toddler foam pillow, bassinet, bedside sleeper, booster seat, changing pad, child restraint system for use in motor vehicles and aircraft, co-sleeper, crib mattress, floor playmat, highchair, highchair pad, infant bouncer, infant carrier, infant seat, infant sleep positioner, infant swing, infant travel bed, infant walker, nap cot, nursing pad, nursing pillow, playmat, playpen, play yard, polyurethane foam mat, pad, or pillow, portable foam nap mat, portable infant sleeper, portable hook-on chair, soft-sided portable crib, stroller, and toddler mattress."

The following products are expressly excluded from the scope of requirements.

Children's electronic products, including but not limited to personal computers, audio and video devices, calculators, wireless phones, game consoles, handheld devices with video screens, or any related peripheral devices, such as mouse, keyboard, power supply device or power cord

medical apparatus and instruments

Adult mattress

Internal components of adolescent products that will not come into direct contact with children's skin or mouth during reasonably foreseeable use and abuse

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