Connecticut Governor Signs Law to Restrict the Use of PFAS in Consumer Products
Connecticut’s CT SB 292, which restricts the use of intentionally added PFAS in consumer products, is now law, having unanimously passed the state legislature and been signed by Governor Ned Lamont. The law establishes a product phaseout timeline for 14 specific categories of consumer products that may contain PFAS. Although the bill does not explicitly include adult mattresses in its list of covered products, the defined terms are broad enough that all mattresses (both children’s and adult) are likely covered by the phase outs. For example, the bill defines “upholstered furniture” to mean an article of furniture designed for sitting, resting or reclining and that contains any filling material, “juvenile product” to include at least to crib and toddler mattresses and “textile furnishings” to include “bedding.” The covered products list also includes fabric treatments that contain intentionally added PFAS.
The law provides as follows:
· Effective July 1, 2026, no person may manufacture, sell or distribute a covered product that contains intentionally added PFAS unless they have reported specified information to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and affixed a consumer warning label to their product that states “Made with PFAS Chemicals.”
· Effective January 1, 2028, no person may manufacture, sell or distribute a covered product that contains intentionally added PFAS. After this date, the use of intentionally added PFAS in the covered product categories is prohibited regardless of the above reporting and labelling requirements.
In the Governor’s signing message, he noted that the legislation lacks an exemption process for uses of PFAS for which there is no reasonable alternative. Lamont suggested the legislature continue to review the issue with an eye toward assessing whether certain PFAS chemicals should be exempt or provide a waiver or exemption process missing from the law.
ISPA has updated a chart that analyzes PFAS bills currently pending in state legislatures across the country that could affect the mattress industry. The chart is available to ISPA members only. Click here to access the chart.