Press Statements

California today passed new precedent-setting laws that require accurate labeling for products and regulate toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” as a class. The three bills signed today by Governor Gavin Newsom ensure truth in advertising through labeling requirements in products claiming to be recyclable; in compostable products; and in cookware, respectively. A fourth bill was also signed that regulates toxic chemicals in juvenile products. All four bills notably address toxic PFAS chemicals as a class, a longstanding recommendation by science experts, health care professionals, and advocates alike.

Today, Maine’s groundbreaking bill that bans “intentionally added” toxic PFAS chemicals in all products by 2030 became law. The new law positions Maine as the first state in the country to establish a procedure to eliminate PFAS in all products, except where the state determines the use is “currently unavoidable,” meaning that the use is both critical for health or safety and a safer alternative is not available.

PORTLAND, O.R.—Today, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law a nation-leading bill that restricts the sale of consumer products that contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The bill bans PFAS chemicals from firefighting foam, food packaging, ski wax, and carpets, rugs, and stain-resistant treatments.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) will join environmental advocates to discuss the reintroduction of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (BFFPPA). The Act would reduce plastic production, increase recycling rates, ban the use of certain single use plastics, encourage greater reuse, and require stronger regulations to protect frontline […]

Company eliminating PFAS in packaging materials by 2025 Public health advocates urge the company to act by 2022 and call on Burger King and Wendy’s to follow suit WASHINGTON, D.C. — International fast-food giant McDonald’s today announced a new global sustainable packaging commitment, banning the class of toxic chemicals per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last night, Congressional negotiators finalized the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) conference report, which now includes several important provisions that begin to take action on the PFAS contamination crisis. At the same time, the conferees left out key provisions that would have required cleanup of PFAS-contaminated communities and industrial water pollution. The final […]

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States House of Representatives passed a bipartisan bill (H.R. 535) today that would begin to address the country’s PFAS crisis. The bill would restrict PFAS air and water pollution and jumpstart cleanup at polluted sites across the country. It passed the House by a 247 to 159 margin with 24 Republicans voting for […]

For Immediate Release: February 14, 2019 Portland, OR – Today, in response to the U.S. EPA’s recently issued PFAS management plan, Safer States, a national coalition of environmental health organizations, called on state leaders across the country to fill the gaps in the EPA plan by enacting strong state policies that address the harmful class of […]

States Should Move Quickly to Adopt Bans on Toxic Firefighting Foams Today Congress directed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to allow airports to use firefighting foam free of highly fluorinated chemicals or PFAS. PFAS-containing firefighting foam is responsible for the contamination of drinking water of millions of Americans across the country. If signed into law, […]

State Environmental Health Advocates Urge US EPA to Support State Action on Highly Fluorinated Chemicals in Drinking Water  “PFAS Summit” Must be More than Talk  (Washington, DC) – A national coalition of state environmental health advocates is calling on state and federal officials to take swift action to protect Americans’ health from highly fluorinated chemicals or PFASs. […]