U.S. CPSC Requests Data on PFAS Use in Consumer Products

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

On Sept. 20, 2023, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a notice of availability and request for information regarding data specific to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products in the Federal Register.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that are characterized by their carbon-fluorine bonds. They are durable and have a diverse array of uses across many consumer products. However, members of the PFAS group have demonstrated the ability to move large distances in the environment and once released, do not break down quickly. Many of the well-studied PFAS may be detrimental to human health, including neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and can negatively impact reproduction and development. Because of these properties, there has been an increase in regulatory action addressing their use in products and presence in the environment. UL has formerly published updates for some of these actions (including Additional U.S. States Ban PFAS-Containing Products and NEWMOA Publishes Draft of PFAS Model Legislation).

In the request, CPSC notes that data on usage of PFAS in consumer products, exposure risks from product containing PFAS, and potential human health impacts are key topics of interest. Feedback is solicited from all stakeholders (consumers, manufacturers, government agencies, and researchers, among others) to submit. Comments are accepted through Nov. 20, 2023 and may be submitted through Docket No. CPSC–2023– 0033 either electronically or by mail.

In addition to the request for information, CPSC also contracted with an external partner (RTI International) to review PFAS present in consumer products and report out. The report was made available as part of the Federal Register notice and contains relevant information on the uses or applications of PFAS in the sector, current known regulatory action or restrictions for either the group or specific substances, and a summary of recent risk assessments conducted.

Recommended action items

Stakeholders are encouraged to review the RTI report and the request, identify where they can contribute, and provide feedback prior to the deadline.

References

• Request for Information on PFAS - U.S. Federal Register
• RTI Report on CPSC Site