With the signing of the new law, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has banned the use of PFAS chemicals in the production of clothing and other textiles within the state and is set to take effect on the final day of 2023.
PFAS chemicals, also known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl, have increasingly concerned environmental organisations over evidence that their usage can be toxic to people.
(PFAS) have been the target of a campaign by environmental groups seeking to restrict their use out of safety concerns for humans. At the same time, washing the garments with the ‘forever chemicals” can lead the product to seep into groundwater and the drinking water supply which is more harmful to the environment.
In recent years, activists have pushed to restrict the use of PFAS in a wide range of consumer and industrial products due to the belief that these chemicals are ‘forever harmful’.
“It’s fantastic to see New York joining California in phasing out toxic ‘forever’ PFAS chemicals in clothes. It’s important that we do away with unnecessary uses of these harmful chemicals wherever possible to protect people’s health and safety,” said Avi Kar, Senior Attorney and Senior Director for Health & Food at the National Resource Defense Council adding,“This is not the first PFAS law New York has passed, and it shouldn’t be its last. New York continues to build on its leadership by enacting this law that adds to previous bans on PFAS in firefighting foam and paper-based food packaging.”
Brad Hoylman and Pat Fahy were the bill’s original sponsors.
“This year was another marked by strong action taken by New York State on reducing the public’s exposure to dangerous and toxic chemicals,” Fahy said, adding, “Gov. Hochul’s signature of my legislation banning toxic PFAS chemicals in common forms of apparel will continue New York’s reputation as a national leader in PFAS action. All of these actions ensure that New Yorkers will be at the forefront of protecting the public’s health and reduction of exposure to dangerous and toxic classes of chemicals.”
