Press Release: August 12, 2020
The US state of Maine’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has added perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and its salts to a list of priority chemicals (PCs) that require reporting in specific children’s products.
In addition to PFOS, the salts covered in the new Chapter 890 are:
Maine enacted the ‘Toxic Chemicals in Children’s Products’ law in 2008. It requires manufacturers and/or distributors of children’s products to disclose specific information if a PC is added to a product and exceeds the de minimis level. This requirement does not apply to, among other things, inaccessible components. The list of PCs is evaluated and updated periodically.
‘Children’s product’ is defined as a consumer product that is intended for, made for, or marketed for use by a child under 12 years of age. It also includes any consumer product that contains a chemical of high concern (CHC) that when used or disposed of will likely result in a child under 12 years of age or a fetus being exposed to that chemical.
Chapter 890 is just the latest rule chapter to be issued. Products included under its scope include:
Exemptions include:
The new rule came into effect on July 28, 2020 and the deadline for reporting is January 24, 2021 (180 days from the effective date). Manufacturers or distributors of products under the scope of the chapter, but which are not offered for sale until after January 24, 2021, are obliged to report to the DEP within 30 days.
Since 2011, other rule chapters that have been issued include:
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Hingwo Tsang
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