LANSING, Mich., April 22, 2024 — State Rep. Penelope Tsernoglou (D-East Lansing) and Majority Floor Leader Abraham Aiyash (D-Hamtramck) announced plans today to introduce two landmark bills this week in celebration of Earth Day. The bills aim to phase out the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a wide range of products.

Discovered in Michigan in 2010, PFAS are synthetic chemicals that are widely used in various household and industrial products due to their water and oil resistance properties and are the primary acting agent in firefighting foams. They have gained notoriety due to their persistence in the environment and link to health complications like birth defects and cancer.

“Protecting our environment and public health is paramount, and these bills represent crucial steps towards achieving that goal,” Tsernoglou said. “By phasing out PFAS in household products, we’re taking a significant step towards a healthier, safer future for generations to come.”

The bills propose stringent regulations on household products containing intentionally added PFAS, effectively banning their sale beginning Jan. 1, 2027, unless the PFAS in the product are currently unavoidable. This comprehensive prohibition covers a wide array of items, including apparel, cleaning products and cookware. Manufacturers of products that contain intentionally added PFAS will be required to submit a detailed report to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, who will then be able to provide exemptions to products, if they find that the PFAS used in them are currently unavoidable.

“For over a decade, we’ve known the harmful effects of PFAS on our planet and people. Michigan can continue to lead our nation towards a more sustainable, healthier environment with this legislation,” Aiyash said. “We have a responsibility to be better stewards in protecting the air, land and water. Our future generations depend on it.”

Under these bills, the sale or distribution of any product containing intentionally added PFAS that has not been granted an exemption by EGLE, will be prohibited in Michigan, beginning Jan. 1, 2032.

Michigan has long been at the forefront of environmental advocacy, and these bills underscore House Democrats’ commitment to prioritizing public health and environmental sustainability.