Requirements by product
| Product | Requirement | Effective | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food packagingBan | 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) |
| CookwareBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island cookware that contains intentionally added PFAS.Cookware includes pots, pans, skillets, grills, baking sheets, baking molds, trays, bowls and cooking utensils used in homes and restaurants. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a) |
| CosmeticsBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island cosmetics that contain intentionally added PFAS.Unavoidable trace PFAS from impurities, the manufacturing process, storage, packaging migration or other unintentional origin does not violate the law if the cosmetic was made with processes intended to comply. Soap is excluded from the cosmetic definition. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a), (f) |
| Children's productsBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island juvenile products that contain intentionally added PFAS.Juvenile products are products for children under 12, such as car seats, cribs, crib mattresses, strollers, high chairs and play mats; children's electronic products, medical devices and adult mattresses are excluded. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a); 23-18.18-3(13) |
| Apparel and textilesBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island textile articles, including apparel, accessories, handbags and backpacks, that contain intentionally added PFAS.Apparel excludes personal protective equipment and items for exclusive use by the U.S. military. Outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions: from January 1, 2029 it may not be sold with intentionally added PFAS unless accompanied by a disclosure stating 'Made with PFAS chemicals'. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a), (b)(2) |
| Textile furnishingsBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island household or business textile articles such as draperies, shower curtains, furnishings, upholstery, bedding, towels, napkins and tablecloths that contain intentionally added PFAS.Textile articles exclude carpets or rugs, treatments for textiles or leathers, laboratory textiles, architectural fabric structures and industrial filtration media. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a); 23-18.18-3(25) |
| Carpets and rugsBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island carpets or rugs that contain intentionally added PFAS.Excludes carpets or rugs solely for outdoor use or for vehicles, resilient floor coverings, artificial turf, wall hangings, table mats and camping sleeping mats. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a) |
| Fabric treatmentsBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island fabric treatments that contain intentionally added PFAS. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a) |
| Menstrual productsBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island menstrual products that contain intentionally added PFAS.Covers tampons, pads, sponges, menstruation underwear, disks, applicators and menstrual cups, disposable or reusable. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a) |
| Ski waxBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island ski wax, including related tuning products, that contains intentionally added PFAS. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(a) |
| Artificial turfBan | No person may manufacture, sell, offer for sale or distribute for sale in Rhode Island artificial turf containing intentionally added PFAS.Artificial turf is listed as a covered product, but subsection (b) sets its specific date of January 1, 2029. | January 1, 2029 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(b)(1) |
| Firefighting foamBan | A manufacturer may not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale, or distribute for use or use in Rhode Island Class B firefighting foam with intentionally added PFAS.Exempt where federal law requires PFAS (including 14 C.F.R. 139.317); such users must report use and releases to the state fire marshal and the DEM within five business days (P.L. 2026, ch. 230 and 231) and fully contain releases. Terminals may seek a DEM temporary exemption of up to one year. Manufacturers had to recall prohibited foam and reimburse purchasers by March 1, 2025. | January 1, 2025 | In force | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-5(c)-(h) |
| Firefighting foamUse limit | A person, local government or state agency may not discharge or otherwise use for training Class B firefighting foam that contains intentionally added PFAS. | January 1, 2025 | In force | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-5(b) |
| Firefighter gearBan | Manufacturers and other sellers may not manufacture, knowingly sell, offer for sale, distribute for sale or distribute for use in Rhode Island firefighting personal protective equipment containing intentionally added PFAS.Added by P.L. 2025, ch. 21 (H 5019) and ch. 24 (S 0241), which also made firefighting PPE a covered product. | January 1, 2027 | Scheduled | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-5(l)(2); 23-18.18-3(7)(x) |
| Firefighter gearLabeling | Manufacturers and other sellers of firefighting personal protective equipment must give the purchaser written notice at the time of sale if the equipment contains any PFAS, including the reason PFAS was added.Seller and purchaser must keep the notice for at least 3 years and provide it to DEM within 60 days of a request. | January 1, 2025 | Applies | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-5(l)(1), (n) |
| LabelingLabeling | Outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions containing intentionally added PFAS may be sold only if accompanied by a legible, easily discernable disclosure stating 'Made with PFAS chemicals'. | January 1, 2029 | Starts | R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-4(b)(2) |
The laws
Rhode Island
Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024
- Citation
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.18-1 to 23-18.18-7 (23-18.18-8 added in 2026)
- Enacted by
- H 7356 Sub A as amended and S 2152 Sub A as amended (2024), P.L. 2024 ch. 344 and 345; amended by H 5019 and S 0241 (2025), P.L. 2025 ch. 21 and 24; amended by S 2799 and H 7734 (2026), P.L. 2026 ch. 231 and 230
- Enacted or adopted
- June 26, 2024
- Last amended
- June 19, 2026
- Status
- Partly in force
- Source
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE23/23-18.18/INDEX.htm
How it defines PFAS
substances that include any member of the class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom
Intentionally added
PFAS added to a covered product or one of its product components to provide a specific characteristic, appearance, or quality or to perform a specific function (also includes degradation byproducts and intentional breakdown products, and PFAS used as a processing agent, mold release agent or intermediate where PFAS is detected in the final covered product)
Exemptions
- Sale or resale of used products
- Unavoidable trace PFAS in cosmetics made with processes intended to comply
- Class B foam where federal law requires PFAS
- Temporary one-year DEM exemptions for Class B foam at petroleum terminals
- Product or category exemptions granted by DEM under the 2026 amendment (S 2799)
Unavoidable use and waivers. The 2024 act has no CUU process (its intent section refers to banning PFAS uses by January 1, 2029 unless unavoidable). S 2799 (2026) lets the DEM director grant, with conditions, an exemption for a product or category if use is beneficial to the environment or protective of public health or safety, and/or there is no technically feasible alternative, and no comparable non-PFAS product is available at reasonable cost; DEM must consult neighboring states and regional organizations first, and exemptions may be renewed for up to 5 years each.
Penalties. From January 1, 2027, civil penalty up to $1,000 for a first violation and up to $5,000 per violation for later violations (23-18.18-7). Class B foam manufacturers: up to $5,000 per violation for a first offense and $10,000 per repeat offense. DEM may demand a certificate of compliance within 30 days. S 2799 (2026) adds injunctive relief in Providence County Superior Court and notice-of-violation procedures.
Rhode Island
PFAS in food packaging (Toxic Packaging Reduction Act)
- Citation
- R.I. Gen. Laws 23-18.13-4(d); definitions in 23-18.13-3
- Enacted by
- S 2044 Sub A (2022), P.L. 2022 ch. 293 and 294; amended by H 5861 Sub A as amended (2023), P.L. 2023 ch. 257 and 258; amended by H 7619 Sub A (2024), P.L. 2024 ch. 120 and 121
- Enacted or adopted
- June 29, 2022
- Last amended
- June 17, 2024
- Status
- In force
- Source
- https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE23/23-18.13/23-18.13-4.htm
Intentionally added
deliberately utilizing PFAS in the formulation of a package or packaging component where its continued presence is desired in the final package or packaging component to provide a specific characteristic, appearance, or quality
Exemptions
- Until July 1, 2027, post-consumer recycled feedstock whose final package complies with 23-18.13-4(d)
Bills and pending action
- S 2799 (2026): Relating to Health and Safety, Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024
Signed by Governor (per LegiScan); passed Senate June 10, 2026 and House June 11, 2026 (June 19, 2026)
Adds DEM exemption process (renewable up to 5 years), certified-mail notices, broader product definition covering commercial and industrial use, interstate clearinghouse authority, and restructured enforcement. Source
Timeline
- June 22, 2023 Delayed
P.L. 2023 ch. 257 and 258 delayed the food packaging PFAS ban from January 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024. Source - June 17, 2024 Delayed
P.L. 2024 ch. 120 and 121 delayed the food packaging PFAS ban to January 1, 2025. Source - June 26, 2024 Enacted
Consumer PFAS Ban Act of 2024 enacted (P.L. 2024 ch. 344 and 345). Source - January 1, 2025 Took effect
Food packaging PFAS ban, Class B foam training and sales bans, and firefighting PPE notice requirement took effect. Source - March 1, 2025 Update
Deadline for Class B foam manufacturers to recall prohibited foam and reimburse purchasers. Source - June 10, 2025 Amended
P.L. 2025 ch. 21 and 24 added a January 1, 2027 ban on firefighting PPE with intentionally added PFAS. Source - June 19, 2026 Amended
S 2799 signed, adding a DEM exemption process and clearinghouse authority to the Consumer PFAS Ban Act. Source
Checked and set aside
- Rhode Island's 2024 act contains no ban on PFAS in all products, and it does not list cleaning products or dental floss.
- Rhode Island's food packaging ban took effect January 1, 2025, after two delays from the original January 1, 2024 date.