NEWMOA Publishes Draft of PFAS Model Legislation

By Krystal Spickler, program manager, Supply Chain team, UL Solutions

The Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA) recently published a draft version of a Model Legislation addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The document was drafted by state agency representatives from Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The Model Legislation was drafted with the objective of reducing PFAS usage, while also ensuring alternatives are safe. It was written to educate consumers, clarify regulatory requirements for those in scope, and harmonize strategy for various methods such as phase-outs, prohibitions, and notification/labeling requirements.

At a high level, the draft considers proposed or passed legislation from a number of state jurisdictions to inform its approach. These include the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse law, mercury reduction legislation requiring notification, product labeling requirements for mercury, and various extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws. Detail on regulatory approaches for product containing PFAS is provided in scope of interstate clearinghouses, notification, restriction of product, certificates of compliance, product labeling, and producer responsibility.

Comments are open until midnight EST on June 29, 2023 and can be submitted directly to NEWMOA by email (publiccomments@newmoa.org). NEWMOA also previously held a webinar that is recorded and available at the landing page referenced below.

Sources

• Draft PFAS Model Legislation Landing Page - NEWMOA 
• Draft PFAS Model Legislation