Most state food packaging laws target paper, paperboard and other plant-fiber packaging, where PFAS were used for grease resistance. FDA says those grease-proofing agents left the US market by 2024 and declared their food contact notifications no longer effective on January 6, 2025. Oregon's foodware ban and the EU packaging regulation cover packaging of any material.
State rules
| Jurisdiction | Requirement | Effective | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New YorkBan | No person may distribute, sell, or offer for sale in New York food packaging containing PFAS as intentionally added chemicals.Covers packages and packaging components intended for direct food contact and made mainly of paper, paperboard or other plant-fiber materials, such as pizza boxes, pastry boxes and sandwich wrappers. | December 31, 2022 | In force | ECL 37-0209 |
| CaliforniaBan | No person may distribute, sell, or offer for sale in California food packaging that contains regulated PFAS. Food packaging means nondurable packages, packaging components, and food service ware made in substantial part of paper, paperboard, or other plant-fiber materials.Regulated PFAS means intentionally added PFAS or PFAS present at or above 100 ppm total organic fluorine. Manufacturers must use the least toxic alternative. Packaging not made in substantial part of plant fiber is outside this section. Food packaging is a covered product under AB 347: DTSC registration by 2029-07-01 and DTSC enforcement from 2030-07-01. | January 1, 2023 | In force | HSC 109000(a)-(c) |
| WashingtonBan | No person may manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use plant-fiber food packaging with intentionally added PFAS in these applications: wraps, plates, food boats and pizza boxes.Food package means packaging intended for direct food contact made in substantial part of paper, paperboard or other plant-fiber material. Date set by Ecology's 2021 safer alternatives report (ban takes effect two years after the report). Manufacturers must keep a certificate of compliance. | February 1, 2023 | In force | RCW 70A.222.070(1), (5); RCW 70A.222.040 |
| VermontBan | Manufacturers may not manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale or use in Vermont a food package to which PFAS have been intentionally added and are present in any amount.Food package means a package or packaging component intended for direct food contact; packaging components include disposable gloves used in commercial or institutional food service. In effect since July 1, 2023 under 18 V.S.A. section 1672 (which also named suppliers and distributors); recodified at 9 V.S.A. section 2494x effective January 1, 2026. Used products exempt. | July 1, 2023 | In force | 9 V.S.A. sections 2494w, 2494x(a), (d) |
| ConnecticutBan | No food package to which PFAS has been intentionally introduced during manufacturing or distribution in any amount may be offered for sale or for promotional purposes in Connecticut by its manufacturer or distributor.Food packaging means any package or packaging component applied to or in direct contact with any food or beverage (22a-255h). Substitutes may not create an equal or greater hazard (22a-255i(f)). | December 31, 2023 | In force Secondary source | Conn. Gen. Stat. 22a-255i(e) |
| ColoradoBan | No person may sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale or use in Colorado food packaging (packages or components in direct contact with food made substantially of paper, paperboard, or other plant-fiber materials) containing intentionally added PFAS chemicals. | January 1, 2024 | In force | C.R.S. 25-15-604(1) |
| MarylandBan | Prohibits manufacture or knowing sale of food packaging designed for direct food contact that contains intentionally added PFAS, including packaging substantially composed of paper, paperboard, or plant-fiber material, and plastic disposable gloves used in commercial or institutional food service.Certificate of compliance required from manufacturers on request. | January 1, 2024 | In force | Env. 9-1902(d); definitions 9-1901(c) |
| MinnesotaBan | No person may manufacture or knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, distribute, or offer for use in Minnesota a food package that contains intentionally added PFAS.Food package covers unit, intermediate, and shipping containers, unsealed receptacles such as cups, plates, trays, wrappers, bags and tubs, and assembled parts such as coatings, closures, inks, labels, blocking, bracing, and strapping. | January 1, 2024 | In force | Minn. Stat. 325F.075, subd. 2 |
| WashingtonBan | Same prohibition extended to plant-fiber bags and sleeves, bowls, flat serviceware, open-top containers and closed containers.Date set by Ecology's 2022 safer alternatives report. Ecology's page lists no later tranche. | May 1, 2024 | In force | RCW 70A.222.070(5) |
| HawaiiBan | It is unlawful to manufacture, sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use food packaging with intentionally introduced PFAS in any amount, for wraps and liners, plates, food boats and pizza boxes.Food packaging means a package or component applied to or in direct contact with food or beverage and made in substantial part of paper, paperboard or other plant-fiber material. Other packaging types are not covered. | December 31, 2024 | In force | HRS 321-602 |
| OregonBan | A person may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute in or into Oregon a foodware container containing intentionally added PFAS.Foodware container includes bowls, plates, cups, lids, clamshells and other containers or items used to serve or contain prepared food, including takeout and leftovers. The same act bans polystyrene foam containers. | January 1, 2025 | In force | ORS 459.474; Oregon Laws 2023 ch. 73, secs. 4 and 7 |
| Rhode IslandBan | No food package to which PFAS have been intentionally introduced during manufacturing or distribution in any amount may be offered for sale or for promotional purposes in Rhode Island by its manufacturer or distributor.Food packaging means any package or packaging component applied to or in direct contact with any food or beverage. From July 1, 2027, use of PFAS as a processing agent, mold release agent or intermediate counts as intentional introduction where detected in the final package, and the recycled-feedstock allowance expires. | January 1, 2025 | In force | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.13-4(d); 23-18.13-3(6) |
| MaineBan | A manufacturer, supplier or distributor may not offer for sale or for promotional purposes in Maine food packaging intended for direct food contact, made in substantial part of paper, paperboard or other plant-fiber material and intended for short-term storage or freshly prepared food, with PFAS intentionally introduced above an incidental presence, in these types: bags and sleeves, bowls, closed containers, flat serviceware, food boats, open-top containers, pizza boxes, plates, and wraps and liners.The Board of Environmental Protection adopted the rule April 18, 2024; it took effect May 25, 2024, and the statute delays the ban two years after DEP's safer-alternative determination. Food and beverage manufacturers with less than $1 billion in total annual national sales are exempt. Other packaging types are not covered unless DEP adds them after finding safer alternatives. | May 25, 2026 | In force | 32 M.R.S. section 1733(3-B), (3-C); 06-096 C.M.R. ch. 80, section 5 |
| New HampshireBan | PFAS-added food packaging and containers may not be sold, offered for sale, or distributed for sale or promotional purposes in New Hampshire.Covers containers used to market, protect, handle, deliver, serve, contain or store food or beverages, including unit, intermediate and shipping packages, cups, plates, bowls, trays, wraps, bags and packaging components such as coatings, closures, inks and labels. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | RSA 149-M:64, I(i), IV(e) |
| New MexicoBan | Manufacturers may not sell, offer for sale, or distribute in New Mexico, directly or through intermediaries, food packaging containing intentionally added PFAS.Section 3(A) exemptions apply, including products containing solid fluoropolymers (Section 3(A)(16)). | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | HB 212 (2025), Section 3(B) |
| New JerseyBan | No person may sell, offer for sale, or distribute for sale in New Jersey food packaging that contains intentionally added PFAS.Food packaging means nondurable packages, packaging components or food service ware composed in substantial part of paper, paperboard or other plant-fiber materials. Technically unavoidable traces allowed. | January 12, 2028 | Scheduled | P.L.2025, c.202, section 6 |
Federal and international rules
| Jurisdiction | Requirement | Effective | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DenmarkFood packaging | Paper and board food contact materials in which PFAS have been used may not be marketed, unless a functional barrier prevents migration of the substances into food.Material marketed before 1 July 2020 could be sold until stocks ran out. Retsinformation lists the order as valid on 28 September 2026; the EU PPWR PFAS limits also apply from 12 August 2026. | July 1, 2020 | In force | ยง 8(1)-(2) |
| European UnionFood packaging | Food-contact packaging may not be placed on the market if it contains PFAS at or above 25 ppb for any PFAS (targeted analysis, polymeric PFAS excluded), 250 ppb for the sum of PFAS (targeted analysis, with prior degradation of precursors where applicable, polymeric PFAS excluded), or 50 ppm for PFAS including polymeric PFAS.If total fluorine exceeds 50 mg/kg, the REACH manufacturer, importer or downstream user must on request give proof of fluorine content as PFAS or non-PFAS. Applies only where the PFAS content is not already prohibited by another Union act. Commission to evaluate by 12 August 2030 whether to amend or repeal the paragraph to avoid overlap with REACH, POPs or food contact rules. | August 12, 2026 | In force | Art. 5(5) |
| European UnionFood packaging | May not be placed on the market or used in paper and cardboard food contact materials within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 at or above the limits.Limits: 25 ppb for the sum of PFHxA and its salts, or 1,000 ppb for the sum of PFHxA-related substances, measured in homogeneous material. Articles placed on the market before 10 October 2026 are exempt. | October 10, 2026 | Scheduled | Annex XVII entry 79, paras. 1(c), 7 |
| United States (federal)Food packaging | 35 food contact notifications for PFAS used as grease-proofers on paper and paperboard food packaging are no longer effective, so those substances can no longer be lawfully marketed for those uses under the notifications.Follows FDA's February 28, 2024 announcement that PFAS grease-proofing agents are no longer being sold into the US market. No further FDA PFAS food contact revocation was found in the Federal Register for 2025 or 2026. | January 6, 2025 | In force | 90 FR 653 |
| European UnionFood packaging | Commission guidance on enforcement: with no harmonised EU method, authorities should test total fluorine first (below 50 mg/kg can be considered compliant), then use methods such as pyrolysis-GC/MS to show whether fluorine is organic, then direct TOP analysis to check the 25 ppb and 250 ppb limits.Non-binding. No stock exhaustion period: packaging placed on the market after 12 August 2026 must comply, packaging placed on the market before that date may remain, and there is no exception for recycled material. | June 5, 2026 | Applies | Commission Notice C(2026) 3702 final, section 5 |
Questions
Which states ban PFAS in food packaging?
Fifteen states ban intentionally added PFAS in food packaging. In force: New York (since December 31, 2022); California (since January 1, 2023); Washington (since February 1, 2023); Vermont (since July 1, 2023); Connecticut (since December 31, 2023); Colorado, Maryland and Minnesota (since January 1, 2024); Hawaii (since December 31, 2024); Oregon and Rhode Island (since January 1, 2025); Maine (since May 25, 2026). Scheduled: New Hampshire and New Mexico (January 1, 2027); New Jersey (January 12, 2028).