In an article published on March 21, 2018 by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), journalist Courtney Flatt reported that the Governor of the U.S. State of Washington, Jay Inslee, has singed a bill into law that will eventually restrict the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in food packaging. The bill foresees to ban the sale, manufacture, and distribution of PFASs for use in food packaging in Washington State by January 1, 2022 if safer alternatives can be identified by January 1, 2020 (FPF reported). If no safer alternatives can be found by then, the state’s Department of Ecology must review and report on alternatives each year until they are found to be available, after which the ban will take effect two years later.
“This common sense measure will protect consumers, protect our health and protect our environment from unnecessary toxic chemicals,” Inslee stated. Laurie Valeriano, executive director of non-profit organization Toxic-Free Future, added: “Harmful chemicals that don’t stay in food packaging, but contaminate food, people, and the environment should not be put in products on the market.”
Read more
Courtney Flatt (March 21, 2018). “Inslee signs nation’s 1st law banning food packaging chemicals.” OPB
Washington State Legislature (March 22, 2018). “HB 2658 – 2017-18 – Concerning the use of perfluorinated chemicals in food packaging.”
Ivy Sager-Rosenthal (March 21, 2018). “Governor Inslee signs ban on nonstick chemicals in food packaging.” Toxic-Free Future
Beth Kemler (March 21, 2018). “Washington becomes first state to ban non-stick chemicals in food packaging.” Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families
Chemical Watch (March 26, 2018). “Washington becomes first state to ban PFASs in food packaging.“
