The Nickel Report

States across the country continue to add to the growing patchwork of restrictions for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in products, posing challenges for those who manufacture, distribute, and sell products in the U.S. In 2024 alone, states introduced nearly 250 bills addressing PFAS, including restrictions for PFAS in products. Thirteen states have already enacted laws regulating PFAS in products, including (as previously reported) Minnesota and California. In the past few months, Maine, Colorado, Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island have joined the list, each with its own unique and nuanced set of requirements, deadlines and exemptions. The variations in these state laws presents a complicated compliance matrix, necessitating an informed and strategic approach, particularly for companies navigating the complexities of extensive, global supply chains. Below, we provide our analysis of these new laws that companies selling products in these states should be aware of.

As recently reported on the Hunton Retail Law Resource blog, Washington State became the first-in-the-nation to pass an almost complete ban on the manufacture and sale of cookware containing lead in March 2024. Starting in January 2026, HB 1551 sets the maximum lead content level for cookware and cookware components at five (5) parts per million (ppm). The law is both broad in scope and stringent in its lead limit, making it important for entities that sell cookware or offer cookware for sale in the state of Washington to begin thinking about compliance now.