As the dangers of PFAS to human health and the environment continue to make headlines, governmental agencies are taking action to reduce or eliminate the use of PFAS in products, including Maine’s Act to Stop PFAS Pollution. The law, which is the United States' first phased-in ban on intentionally added PFAS in most products, has significantly changed Maine’s market and impacted several manufacturers and businesses.
Our experts answered the top questions we have received from clients regarding the Maine PFAS LD 1503 law to help compliance professionals understand the law and how it may impact them.
An Act to Stop Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Pollution (LD 1503) of the state of Maine requires manufacturers of products with intentionally added PFAS to report the presence of PFAS in those products by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number.
Maine enacted LD 1503 in July 2021 with various provisions of the law going into effect over time.
Manufacturers or brand owners of products are considered manufacturers under Maine’s PFAS pollution law. Manufacturers of products imported into Maine are considered either the importer or the first domestic distributor of the product, depending on whichever is first to sell the product, offer the product for sale, or distribute the product for sale within the state.
It’s essential for manufacturers to be aware of any components containing intentionally added PFAS in their products, as those products are within the scope of the law regardless of the manufacturer not directly or knowingly adding PFAS to the products.
Manufacturers within the scope of Maine’s PFAS law are required to report on products that contain intentionally added PFAS. Maine's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently developing a database to collect PFAS reports. In the meantime, manufacturers must submit a written notification to the department that includes the following information:
Yes, the third provision of Maine’s PFAS pollution law bans the use of PFAS in products sold within the state beginning January 1st, 2030. Companies should prepare for Maine’s PFAS ban by reviewing their products to determine the components most likely to contain PFAS, how these PFAS are used, and if they can be replaced.
As most supply chains are complex, this can be a daunting task, requiring outreach to hundreds of suppliers. Additionally, companies must start searching for alternatives for their components that currently use PFAS if they want to continue to sell their products in Maine.
Whether Maine’s PFAS pollution law impacts you or you must meet PFAS reporting requirements elsewhere, our PFAS program can help you streamline compliance and mitigate risk associated with the dangers of PFAS.
Source Intelligence’s PFAS technology can quickly identify more than 12,000 PFAS from the EPA list and 4,000 PFAS from the OECD list. We offer flexible solutions, from intuitive software to fully managed services, to assist you in due diligence, data analysis, and reporting so you can stay current with ever-changing global reporting requirements, including identifying PFAS in your products, cross-checking products against legislative requirements, and much more.
Explore our PFAS program to learn more, or schedule a demo for a closer look.