Vermont USA s Cookware and Youth Product Certification for PFAS Control

Product Specification

Vermont, USA updates PFAS control requirements in consumer products

On May 30, 2024, the Governor of Vermont, USA, signed and passed Bill S.25, which regulates consumer products containing perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or other chemicals. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2024 and will be implemented in stages from that date. The passage of this bill marks an important step for Vermont in protecting the environment and public health.

Vermont, USA updates PFAS control requirements in consumer products

The main revisions to the bill are as follows:

Note:

1. "Cookware" means durable household items used to prepare, distribute or store food, food or beverages and directly contact food, including pots, pans, frying pans, grills, baking trays, baking molds, trays, bowls and cooking utensils.

2. "Youth products" means products designed or marketed for use by infants or children under 12 years of age: including infant or toddler foam pillows, cradles, bedside beds, booster seats, changing mats, baby rockers, baby carriers, infant seats, infant sleep positioners, baby swings, baby travel beds, baby walkers, nap beds, nursing mats, nursing pillows, play mats, playpens, play yards, polyurethane foam mats, cushions or pillows, portable foam nap mats, portable infant sleep beds, portable hook chairs, soft-sided portable cribs, strollers and toddler mattresses, and disposable diapers. It does not include children's electronic products, including personal computers, audio and video equipment, calculators, wireless phones, game consoles, handheld devices with video screens, or any related peripherals such as mice, keyboards, power units or power cords; medical devices; adult mattresses.

3. "Textiles" means textiles commonly used in homes and businesses, including clothing, accessories, handbags, backpacks, curtains, shower curtains, furniture, upholstery, bedding, towels, napkins and tablecloths. "Textiles" do not include the following:
Vehicles or parts thereof as defined in Title 1, Section 4 of the United States Code;
Vessels or parts thereof as defined in Title 1, Section 3 of the United States Code;
Aircraft or parts thereof as defined in Title 49, Section 40102(a)(6) of the United States Code;
Filter media or filtration products used in industrial applications, including chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing and environmental control technology.
Textiles used for laboratory analysis and testing;
Carpets or rugs.

What are PFAS?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of man-made chemicals composed of carbon and fluorine atoms. They are widely used in textiles, food packaging, non-stick coatings, firefighting foams, and outdoor clothing because of their excellent water-repellent, corrosion-resistant, and heat-resistant properties.

What are the hazards of PFAS?
PFAS have been linked to a variety of health problems, such as liver damage, hypothyroidism, immune system disorders, and reproductive system problems. For example, PFAS such as PFOS and PFOA have a long half-life in the human body and tend to accumulate in the liver, kidneys, and blood, which may increase the risk of cancer. Therefore, the use of PFAS needs to be cautious, and measures need to be taken to reduce its impact on the environment and human body.

The hazards of PFAS mainly include:

1. High stability, difficult to be biodegraded, and long-term environmental pollution.

2. High bioaccumulation, easy to accumulate in the liver and kidneys, causing health problems.

3. Associated with a variety of health problems, such as thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased immunity and increased cancer risk.
Therefore, PFAS needs to be strictly controlled to reduce its impact on the environment and human body.