What's happening
This bill bans the sale or distribution of menstrual products in New York containing certain harmful chemicals, including PFAS, starting in 2026.
Why it matters
Expands the definition of "restricted substances". to include a wide range of harmful chemicals—such as lead, mercury, formaldehyde, phthalates, parabens, and all PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—giving regulators flexibility to add more chemicals in the future, which could impact product safety standards nationwide.
Targets both intentionally added and trace chemicals. by banning not just direct ingredients but also harmful substances present above scientifically established thresholds, making it harder for manufacturers to evade regulation by arguing chemicals are unintended byproducts.
Places responsibility on manufacturers and distributors. to comply with evolving safety thresholds set by the Department of Health and Environmental Conservation, with mandatory periodic review and possible lowering of contamination limits, increasing industry oversight and potentially raising production costs.
Aims to reduce health risks and environmental contamination. from menstrual products by specifically identifying chemicals linked to cancer, hormone disruption, and other health issues, which could be especially significant for vulnerable populations who use these products regularly.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Toxins in Period Products
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 34
History
- Approval memo.55
- Signed chap.674
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.6
- Substituted for A1502
- Referred to health
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.103
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to women's issues
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Ban Toxic Chemicals in Pads
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1548
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
Introduced by Sen. FERNANDEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Women's Issues
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the restriction of certain substances in menstrual products
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subdivision 1 of section 399-aaaa of the general business law, as added by chapter 362 of the laws of 2019, is amended and three new paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) are added to read as follows:
(b) "menstrual product" shall mean products used for the purpose of catching menstruation and vaginal discharge, including but not limited to tampons, pads, and menstrual cups. These products may be either disposable or reusable[.];
(c) "restricted substance" shall mean an unsafe chemical for inclusion in menstrual products as determined by the commissioner of health, which shall include, but not be limited to, lead, mercury and related compounds, formaldehyde, triclosan, toluene, talc, dibutyl phthalate, di(2)exylhexyl phthalate, butylphenyl methylpropional and isobutyl-, isopropyl-, butyl-, propylparaben, and perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances;
(d) "perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances" shall mean a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom;
(e) "intentionally added ingredient" shall mean any element or compound that a manufacturer has intentionally added to a menstrual product, and which has a functional or technical effect in the finished product, including, but not limited to, the components of intentionally added fragrance, flavoring and colorants, and the intentional breakdown products of an added element or compound that also has a functional or technical effect on the finished product.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04698-01-5
§ 2. Subdivision 4 of section 399-aaaa of the general business law is renumbered subdivision 5 and a new subdivision 4 is added to read as follows:
4. No menstrual products distributed, sold or offered for sale in this state, whether at retail or wholesale, for personal, professional or commercial use, or distributed for promotional purposes, shall contain:
(a) as of the effective date, a restricted substance present as an intentionally added ingredient at any level; or
(b) as of two years after thresholds are established in regulation, but no later than January first, two thousand twenty-nine, a restricted substance at or above a level that the department of health, in consultation with the department of environmental conservation, shall establish in regulation that is the lowest level that can feasibly be achieved; provided, however, that the department of health and department of environmental conservation shall review such level every five years to determine whether it should be lowered. The commissioner of health shall promulgate regulations establishing these levels no later than a year after the effective date of this section.
§ 3. This act shall take effect twelve months after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the restriction of certain substances in menstrual products
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to the restriction of certain substances in menstrual products
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would prohibit the use of certain restricted substances in menstrual products including, but not limited to, talc, lead, and mercu- ry. This legislation will also ban the use of such restricted substances as a fragrance, colorant, dye, preservation, or other intentionally added ingredient for the presentation of products.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 provides definitions.
Section 2 amends the general business law regarding restricted substances in menstrual products.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
Justification
An individual can use over 16,000 feminine hygiene products over the course of their lifetime. This opens their body to an influx of all types of chemicals and substances. This bill will prohibit the use of certain chemicals, as determined by the Commissioner of Public Health, in menstrual products. Such chemicals include, but are not limited to, talc, mercury, and lead, all of which can cause complications to a person's health. Under current law, there is a certain ambiguity on which ingredients can be included in fragrances, colorants, dyes, or preservatives. This bill would further prohibit the usage of any restricted substances under the terminology of fragrances, colorants, dyes, or preservatives.
Prior legislative history
2023-24: S3529 / A5990
2021-22: S9379 / A2246
2020: A8529
Fiscal implications
TBD
Effective date
This act shall take effect twelve months after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment, and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.