SG 087/25
Rhode Island has expanded the scope of its per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) prohibition to cover firefighting personal protective equipment (FPPE), if PFAS are intentionally added. This amendment will take effect on January 1, 2027.
In 2024, the US state of Rhode Island approved S2152/H7356 ‘Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024’ (the Act, codified as Chapter 18.18 to Title 23 of the state’s General Laws) to regulate PFAS in a wide variety of products:
- Artificial turfs
- Class B firefighting foam
- Carpets and rugs
- Cookware
- Cosmetics
- Fabric treatments
- Firefighting personal protective equipment (FPPE)
- Juvenile products
- Menstrual products
- Outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions
- Ski waxes
- Textile articles
The prohibition of goods containing intentionally added PFAS will be implemented in phases, starting from January 2027, with an exemption for class B firefighting foam and a notification requirement for any PFAS in FPPE, which took effect in January 2025 (SafeguardS 106/24 and references therein).
On June 10, 2025, the governor of Rhode Island signed S241 (companion H5019) into law. This new measure revises § 23-18.18-5(l) of the Act by expanding the notification requirements for the presence of any PFAS in FPPE, starting January 2025, to a prohibition of intentionally added PFAS in these products from January 2027.
Highlights of the amendment are summarized in Table 1
| Substance | Scope | Requirement | Effective date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFAS | FPPE¹ | Prohibited if intentionally added | January 1, 2027 |
| ¹Clothing to be worn by firefighting personnel in the performance of their duties that are designed for use in firefighting and rescue activities, including gloves, helmets, jackets, pants, respiratory equipment and shoes (§ 23-18.18-5(2)) | |||
Table 1
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