What's happening
This bill bans the sale of cleaning products containing triclosan or triclocarban in New York, except for use in medical facilities.
Why it matters
Addresses public health and environmental risks. by restricting the sale of cleaning products containing triclosan and triclocarban, chemicals linked to antibiotic resistance and potential hormone disruption, thus aiming to reduce these risks for consumers and the broader ecosystem.
Affects a wide range of everyday products. the definition of “cleaning products” in the bill is broad, covering not just soaps and detergents, but also items like sponges, wipes, shampoos, conditioners, and even garbage bags, meaning the ban could have a significant impact on what is available in stores.
Creates legal and financial consequences for violations. , with civil penalties up to $1,000 per day for first offenses and $2,500 per day for repeat offenses, signaling strong enforcement and incentivizing compliance among manufacturers and retailers.
Provides regulatory flexibility. by authorizing the state environmental agency to issue rules and regulations, which allows for adaptation and clarification as new products or antibacterial compounds emerge.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Triclosan in Cleaners
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-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
1547
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 15, 2019
Introduced by Sens. KENNEDY, BROOKS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of cleaning products containing triclosan, triclocarban or derivatives of such antibacterial compounds
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 37-0115 to read as follows: § 37-0115. Prohibition of triclosan, triclocarban or derivatives of such
antibacterial compounds.
1. No person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company or corporation shall sell or offer for sale any cleaning products containing triclosan, triclocarban, or derivatives of such antibacterial compounds, within New York state, provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit the sale of products containing such antibacterial compounds that are used solely in medical facilities.
2. The department is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as it shall deem necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
§ 2. Section 37-0101 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. "Cleaning products" means, but are not limited to, dishwashing liquids, laundry detergents, fabric softeners, disinfectants, sponges, mop heads, brooms, garbage bags, cleaning agents, antibacterial soaps, hand soaps, bar soaps, liquid soaps, hand sanitizers, skin purifying wipes, body washes, facial and body cleansers, shampoos, and conditioners.
§ 3. Section 71-3703 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03660-01-9
S. 1547 2
4. Any person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation who violates any of the provisions of section 37-0115 or any rule or regulation promulgated pursuant hereto, shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed one thousand dollars for each day during which such violation continues, and in addition thereto, such person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation may be enjoined from continuing such violation. Such person, firm, partnership, association, limited liability company, or corporation shall for a second violation be liable to the people of the state for a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred dollars for each day during which such violation continues.
§ 4. This act shall take effect one year and six months after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately the addition and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized and directed to be made and completed on or before one year after this act shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of cleaning products containing triclosan, triclo- carban or derivatives of such antibacterial compounds
Purpose
The bill would prohibit the sale of cleaning products containing triclo- san, triclocarban or derivatives of such antibacterial compounds.
Summary of provisions
Amends the environmental conservation law by adding a new section 37-0115, which would prohibit any person, firm, partnership, associ- ation, limited liability company or corporation from selling or offering for sale any cleaning products containing triclosan, triclocarban, or derivatives of such antibacterial compounds, within New York State. This section shall not prohibit the sale of such products that are used sole- ly in medical facilities. The bill would also authorize the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to promulgate rules and regulations in order to implement these provisions. The bill also contains civil penalties for violation of its provisions.
Justification
Triclosan is a phenylether or chlorinated bisphenol, which has been used as a synthetic broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent since the early 1970s. Triclosan can be found in an array of consumer products, such as anti- bacterial soaps, dishwashing products, shampoos, conditioners, laundry detergents and softeners. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found no evidence that triclosan in antibacterial soaps are more effec- tive against germs than regular soap and water.
Several studies have found large amounts of triclosan in surface waters, soil, sediments, and algae. In 2013, a University of Minnesota study found increasing amounts of triclosan in Minnesota's freshwater lakes. The study also found several chlorinated triclosan derivatives, which form when triclosan is exposed to chlorine during the wastewater disin- fection process. Studies have also found evidence of triclosan in New York State waterways.
A United States Geologic Survey (USGS) study found triclosan to be one of the most frequently detected compounds in wastewater contaminants. Over 95 percent of the uses of triclosan are in consumer products that are disposed of down residential drains. Since wastewater treatment plants are unable to completely remove triclosan from the water and the compound is highly stable for long periods of time, an increasing amount of triclosan is emitted into waterways. Triclosan has also been found to be toxic to aquatic life and algae.
Given the potential environmental impacts associated with triclosan, it is imperative that the state take appropriate measures to protect the environment from further exposure to this chemical.
Legislative history
2014: A8697b 2015-16: S.6070 Referred to Environmental Conservation 2017-18: S.5053
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Effective date
This act shall take effect one year and six months after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.