Bill to ban toxic “forever” chemicals from cosmetics advances out of committee

SACRAMENTO– Today the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee voted to advance Assemblymember Friedman’s “PFAS-Free Beauty Act” (Assembly Bill 2771). The bill, backed by a coalition of consumer interest groups, public health groups, and environmental non-profits, will ban the sale in California of cosmetics and other personal care products containing the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. If enacted, it would be the first-in-the-nation statewide ban on all PFAS in beauty and personal care products.

AB 2771 will now move to the Assembly Health committee, where it will need to be voted on by the end of the month in order to continue on in the legislative process this session.

In response to the committee passage: Jenn Engstrom, CALPIRG State Director issued the following statement:

“We are thrilled to see AB 2771 pass out of committee today.  Products we use on our bodies every day shouldn’t contain toxic ingredients that put our health at risk.  Yet every morning, many Californians are covering ourselves with toxic PFAS chemicals because they’re currently permitted — and in — our cosmetics and personal care products. We applaud the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials for advancing this important legislation to make sure what we put on our bodies is toxic-free.”