6 Oct 2021
On October 5, 2021 Governor Gavin Newsom signed 9 laws to reduce plastic waste and the use of PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, in certain consumer products. PFAS are prohibited from being used in products intended for infants and children, such as cribs and playpens, beginning July 1, 2023.
Toys or childcare articles containing di- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, or benzyl butyl phthalate, in concentrations exceeding 0.1% are prohibited under the existing law. After the passage of this bill, no one, including a manufacturer, will be allowed to sell or distribute any juvenile product in this state that contains regulated perfluoroalkyls and polyfluoroalkyls substances (PFAS), defined by the bill. If a manufacturer replaces PFAS chemicals in a juvenile product, the bill requires them to use the least toxic alternative.
The term “regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” is used to describe either of the following:
The term “juvenile products” encompass all products designed for infants and children younger than 12 years of age, including but not limited to crib mattresses for infants, bedside sleepers for adults, chair pads for highchairs, or infant bouncers.
Juvenile products do not include the following: