Statement: California Legislature bans ‘forever chemicals’ in cosmetics

SACRAMENTO — Legislation to ban the sale of cosmetics and personal care products in California made with toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS cleared its final hurdle in the legislature Tuesday and now heads to the governor’s desk. 

PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals that are used in many consumer products to make them water resistant, durable, or slippery.  Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a wide range of serious health effects including kidney and liver disease, immune system suppression, birth defects and even cancer.

AB 2771, backed by a coalition of consumer interest groups, public health groups, and environmental non-profits, prohibits the entire class of PFAS chemicals from being added to cosmetics and personal care products. The bill passed the California State Senate on Monday, followed by a concurrence vote in the Assembly Tuesday, and now moves to the governor’s desk for his signature.

In response to the bill’s passage, representatives from PIRG and its CALPIRG state office issued the following statements:

Jenn Engstrom, CALPIRG State Director said: “Makeup, lotion, and other personal care products we use on our bodies every day shouldn’t contain toxic ingredients that put our health at risk. We applaud state lawmakers for passing the PFAS-Free Beauty Act and Assemblymember Laura Friedman for her dedication to making sure what we put on our bodies is toxic-free.” 

Emily Rogers, PIRG Zero Out Toxics advocate said: “Toxic PFAS chemicals belong nowhere near our bodies, let alone in the personal care products we use on a daily basis. We applaud California’s lawmakers who have taken an important step in protecting consumers from the toxins lurking in our everyday lives and urge legislators in D.C. to do the same. Congress must act to ensure that no American is exposed to dangerous ‘forever chemicals’ or other toxins through the products they use everyday.”