The newly appointed New York State Senate has passed a bill prohibiting the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) — dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ — in apparels. Introduced in April 2021, the bill is supported by Assembly member Patricia Fahy and State Senator Brad Hoylman.

As per an Apparel Resources report, if passed by the end of the current legislative season, the bill will come into effect from December 31, 2023. Other bills like the Model Alliance-backed ‘Fashion Workers Act’ and ‘Fashion Act’may be passed in the next season. The American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) has urged the state legislature to set January 1, 2027, as the date for implementing the bill to allow the fashion industry adequate time to research, develop and use alternate chemicals in the industry and suitable time to divert supply chains away from PFAs, says Stephen Lamar, President and CEO.

The industry supports responsible regulatory requirements that protect human health and the environment. AAFA leads efforts to aggressively phase out the use of intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals by 2027, he adds. Already, a bill S.8817/A.4739-C spearheaded by Senator Hoylman and Assembly member Fahy passed in 2020 limits PFAs in food packaging in New York. The appare bill also focuses on phasing out of the ‘intentionally added chemical’ or those that serve an intended function in the product.