What's happening
This bill requires clothing made of over 50% synthetic material to have labels warning about plastic microfiber shedding and its environmental impact.
Why it matters
Increases consumer awareness of microfiber pollution. By requiring visible labels at the point of sale and on care tags, the bill ensures that buyers are informed about the environmental impact of washing synthetic clothing, potentially influencing more mindful purchasing and laundering habits.
Covers both manufacturers and retailers. The legislation places responsibilities on both clothing manufacturers (who must add care label warnings) and sellers (who must provide point-of-sale warnings), creating a more comprehensive approach to informing the public.
Standardizes labeling requirements statewide. The bill prevents local governments from enacting their own, potentially conflicting rules about synthetic microfibers, ensuring that the rules are consistent across New York and simplifying compliance for businesses operating in multiple locations.
Empowers regulatory oversight. The Department of Environmental Conservation is given authority to create additional rules and regulations as needed, allowing for future adjustments as scientific understanding or industry practices evolve.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Label Microfiber-Shedding Clothes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1549
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 15, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, BARRON, McDONOUGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to requiring additional labels on certain microfiber clothing
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Article 37 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new title 9 to read as follows:
TITLE IX
SYNTHETIC PLASTIC MICROFIBER Section 37-0901. Definitions.
37-0903. Microfiber clothing label requirements.
37-0905. Preemption.
37-0907. Rules and regulations. § 37-0901. Definitions.
As used in this article: 1. "Clothing" means an article of apparel intended to be worn by a person, not including hats or shoes.
2. "Plastic microfiber" means a small synthetic particle that is fibrous in shape, less than five millimeters in length, and is released into water through the regular washing of textiles made from synthetic material. § 37-0903. Microfiber clothing label requirements.
1. Beginning January first, two thousand twenty-one, no person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation shall manufacture for sale any new clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than fifty percent synthetic material, if a care label is required for that clothing pursuant to part four hundred twenty-three of title sixteen of the code of federal regulations, without including on such care label, in addition to the care information and instructions required pursuant to such federal law, one of the following statements, as applicable:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05885-01-9
A. 1549 2
a. For clothing for which machine washing or hand washing is recommended or required: "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed. Hand washing recommended to reduce shedding."
b. For all other clothing that does not meet the description in paragraph a of this subdivision or if including the statement in paragraph a of this subdivision would violate part four hundred twenty-three of title sixteen of the code of federal regulations: "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed."
2. Beginning January first, two thousand twenty-one, no person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation shall sell or offer for sale any new clothing made from fabric that is composed of more than fifty percent synthetic material without a conspicuous label that is visible to the consumer at the point of sale, in the form of a sticker, hang tag, or any other label type, that includes one of the following statements, as applicable:
a. For clothing for which machine washing or hand washing is recommended or required: "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution. Hand washing recommended to reduce shedding."
b. For clothing for which dry cleaning is required: "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution. Dry clean only."
c. For all other clothing that does not meet the description in paragraph a or b of this subdivision or if including the applicable statement in paragraph a or b of this subdivision would violate part four hundred twenty-three of title sixteen of the code of federal regulations: "This garment sheds plastic microfibers when washed, which contributes to marine plastic pollution." § 37-0905. Preemption.
The provisions of this title shall preempt any ordinance or resolution of a municipality, county or any other local government entity relating to synthetic plastic microfiber. § 37-0907. Rules and regulations.
The department is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary to implement the provisions of this title.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.