Major PFAS Update: Maine’s Law on “Forever Chemicals” Sees Significant Changes

The recent legislation eliminates the general notification requirement that was previously scheduled to take effect January 1, 2025. This legislation also created a number of new sales prohibitions for products with intentionally added PFAS with varying effective dates, created some specific exemptions to the prohibitions, and established a new reporting program for those product categories that receive a Currently Unavoidable Use (CUU) determination from the Department.

Key Highlights:

• A legislative committee endorsed changes to Maine’s law regulating “forever chemicals” in products, moving the bill to the full House and Senate for consideration.
• The Environment and Natural Resources Committee split 6-to-5 along party lines on the proposal to delay by two years — until 2032 — Maine’s ban on PFAS in most products.
• Certain products like cosmetics, cookware, cleaning products, and menstruation products will face earlier restrictions starting in 2026 if they contain “intentionally added” PFAS.
• Outdoor apparel using PFAS will need clear consumer disclosures starting in 2029.