USA - California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021

On October 5, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the California Safer Food Packaging and Cookware Act of 2021 (Assembly Bill 1200 or AB 1200). AB 1200 prohibits the sale or distribution of PFAS-containing paper and other vegetable-based food packaging beginning January 1, 2023.

"Food packaging," which includes food or beverage containers, take-out food containers, unit packs, liners, wrappers, serving containers, eating utensils, straws, food containers, and disposable plates, trays, or dishes,

"perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" or "PFAS," which means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, "regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS."

The use and destination of PFAS is specified as 100 mg F/kg (mg fluorine per kg).

However, an important part of AB 1200 is the chemical disclosure requirement.

Beginning January 1, 2023, cookware manufacturers must disclose on a website whether their product contains any of the thousands of chemicals on the California Department of Toxic Substances Control's (DTSC) list of candidate chemicals in the handle or cooking surface.