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Assembly approves ban on intentionally added toxic chemicals in menstrual products
Summary
The Assembly passed a bill to ban intentionally added hazardous substances — including lead, mercury, formaldehyde and PFAS — from menstrual products, with regulators tasked to set trace thresholds by 2029; sponsor Miss Rosenthal said the measure will reduce exposure risks and improve product transparency.
The New York State Assembly voted to bar intentionally added hazardous chemicals from menstrual products, approving legislation that sponsors say will reduce possible health risks from items used in intimate areas. The measure passed by a voice vote, with the clerk recording 148 ayes and no nays.
Sponsor Miss Rosenthal told colleagues the bill amends the General Business Law to prohibit intentionally added substances such as lead, mercury, formaldehyde and PFAS in products sold or distributed in the state. She cited laboratory analyses that, she said, found PFAS in a substantial share of commercial sanitary products and argued that vaginal tissue’s high absorptivity makes exposure a particular concern. "Items that women put in and on their bodies should be free of any chemicals that could even possibly cause adverse health impacts," Rosenthal said as she explained her affirmative vote.
Supporters framed the law as a phased approach. For the first year the prohibition focuses on intentionally added substances and relies on existing ingredient‑labeling requirements; by 2029 the bill directs the Department of Health and Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a list of restricted substances and to set regulatory thresholds for unintentional contamination. In floor exchanges, Miss Walsh asked about the practicalities of labeling, production lead times and stock that might remain on shelves; the sponsor pointed to a previous ingredient‑labeling law and said industry stakeholders accepted a one‑year timeline for required changes.
Lawmakers also pressed for clarity on enforcement and testing. The sponsor said manufacturers will be required to test and take corrective action when contamination exceeds levels set by regulation; regulators will establish what trace amounts, if any, may be permitted. Rosenthal highlighted public‑health concerns cited by advocates and consulting groups and said the law was intended to reduce exposures linked to endocrine disruption and other conditions.
The clerk read the last section of the act; the bill was recorded as passed and moves to enactment under the timetable specified in the legislation.
