Law also covers incontinence products, turf, textiles and cookware
Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed into law the first-ever ban on phthalates, formaldehyde, mercury, and lead, with 13 other harmful chemicals and chemical classes in menstrual products. Vermont’s new law also restricts these same chemicals, including PFAS, in personal care products, which aligns with policies adopted in Washington, Oregon, California, and Maryland. Minnesota, Maine, and Colorado, which have also banned the entire class of PFAS “forever chemicals” in menstrual products.
Vermont’s new law also makes it the first in the nation to restrict PFAS in incontinence products. Additionally, the law bans PFAS in artificial turf, textiles, cookware, and juvenile products. Notably, the law establishes a community engagement plan to provide education and develop recommendations to address harmful chemicals being marketed to or used by marginalized populations.
Leaders from Vermont including health advocates, legislators, and families impacted by toxic chemical exposure as well as states across the country applaud this move and anticipate more government and corporate policies to follow. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group, Vermont Conservation Voters, and Safer States released the following statements in response to this news.
“The Vermont Legislature once again passed a nation-leading ban on toxic chemicals by restricting some of the worst of the worst chemicals from menstrual products. The bill also builds on laws already in place in other states by banning a suite of dangerous chemicals from personal care products, and banning PFAS chemicals from a range of products,” noted Lauren Hierl, executive director of Vermont Conservation Voters. “As PFAS “forever chemicals” continue to harm Vermonters’ health and contaminate our drinking water, the urgency of turning off the tap of PFAS coming into our state continues to grow – and this bill takes critical steps to stem the flow.”
“This marks an important step forward for Vermont’s continued efforts to protect our communities and our environment from exposure to PFAS and other toxic chemicals,” says Marcie Gallagher, environmental advocate at the Vermont Public Interest Research Group. “When it comes to toxics, every exposure pathway matters – and this is particularly true when it comes to products we use daily and on the most intimate parts of our bodies like cosmetics and menstrual products.”
“Vermont’s new law demonstrates the important leadership role that states have when it comes to prioritizing policies that protect people and the planet from toxic chemicals,” explained Sarah Doll, national director of Safer States. “The fact that not a single legislator voted against this bill underscores bipartisan consensus that these protections are urgent and necessary.”
