Proposal Released to Make PFOS a Priority Chemical for Reporting in Children’s Products in US State of Maine

The US state of Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced a proposal to designate perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as a Priority Chemical that requires reporting if it is used in certain children’s products.

If the proposal is accepted, stakeholders will be required to report the intentional addition of PFOS to certain categories of children’s products, if it exceeds the practical quantification limit (PQL).

The categories are:
• Child care articles
• Children’s clothing, footwear, sleepwear and toys
• Cookware, tableware and reusable food and beverage containers (food and beverage packaging products only apply to those that are intentionally marketed or intended for use by children under three years of age)
• Cosmetics and personal care products
• Craft supplies
• Electronic devices
• Household furniture and furnishings

Maine’s Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products’ Law was enacted in 2008. It requires manufacturers or distributors of certain children’s products to disclose specific information if a Priority Chemical is added to a product and exceeds the de minimis level.

It defines children’s products as – a consumer product intended for, made for or marketed for use by children under 12 years of age, such as baby products, car seats, clothing, personal care products and toys, and any consumer product containing a chemical of high concern that when used or disposed of will likely to result in a child under 12 years of age or a fetus being exposed to that chemical.

If the proposal is accepted, PFOS will become the fourteenth substance designated as a Priority Chemical, joining:
• Bisphenol A (BPA)
• Nonyl phenol (NP)
• Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs)
• Formaldehyde
• Three metals:
o Arsenic
o Cadmium
o Mercury
• Four phthalates:
o BBP - benzyl butyl phthalate
o DBP - dibutyl phthalate
o DEP - diethyl phthalate
o DEHP - di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate
• Two flame retardants:
o Deca-BDE - decabromodiphenyl ether
o HBCD/HBCDD - hexabromocyclododecane

If the proposal is accepted, a new Chapter 890 will be created. The date of effect for reporting will be 180-days after this new chapter comes into effect, or within 30-days of sale if the sale commences after the 180-day reporting period ends.

The announcement was made on April 3, 2019, and comments will be accepted until May 6, 2019.

SGS Toy & Juvenile Product Services
SGS offers a wide range of services to ensure that products comply with relevant standards for childcare articles and children’s equipment. They provide consulting, training, product development, testing, audit and inspection services to ensure that products comply with strict regulations worldwide, demonstrating the safety and quality of juvenile products being brought to the market. Learn more about SGS’s Toy & Juvenile Product Services. [www.sgs.com/en/consumer-goods-retail/toys-and-juvenile-products

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full Maine Proposes to Designate PFOS as Priority Chemical for Reporting SafeGuardS. [www.sgs.com/en/news/2019/04/safeguards-05119-us-state-of-maine-proposes-to-designate-pfos-as-priority-chemical-for-reporting]

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For further information contact:

Hingwo Tsang
Global Information and Innovation Manager
Tel:(+852) 2774 7420
Email: crs.media@sgs.com
Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr

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This release was published on openPR.