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S 1588

Requiring the health care and wellness education and outreach program of the department of health to provide information regarding pressure ulcers

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Liz Krueger

Prohibits intentionally added PFAS in any Massachusetts food packaging and requires certificates of compliance from manufacturers.

REFERRED TO HEALTH
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1588

Bill summary — S.1588 (2025): "An Act relative to chemicals in food packaging"

Note: Although the user-provided bill title references health education on pressure ulcers, the text of S.1588 as filed amends Chapter 94B to regulate chemicals in food packaging — specifically prohibiting intentionally added PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This summary reflects the bill text.

Purpose

To prohibit the manufacture, sale, distribution, or offer for sale in Massachusetts of food packaging to which PFAS have been intentionally added, and to require documentation (certificates of compliance) from manufacturers/suppliers that packaging is PFAS-free.

Key provisions

  • Adds Section 11 to Chapter 94B (General Laws).
  • Definitions: establishes terms including “food package,” “manufacturer,” “package,” “packaging component,” and “perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)” (defined as fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom).
  • Prohibition (subsection b): bans manufacture, sale, offer for sale, or distribution for use in the Commonwealth of any food packaging with PFAS intentionally added in any amount.
  • Certificate of compliance (subsection c):
    • Manufacturers or suppliers must furnish a signed certificate stating a package or packaging component complies with the PFAS prohibition to purchasers.
    • Purchasers must retain the certificate for as long as the packaging is in use.
    • Manufacturers/suppliers must keep a copy on file and provide certificates to the Department of Public Health (DPH) upon request.
    • Certificates (or copies) must be made available to the public in accordance with section 9.
    • If a product is reformulated or a new packaging component is created, the manufacturer/supplier must provide an amended or new certificate.
  • Effective dates:
    • The PFAS prohibition (subsection b) takes effect January 1, 2027.
    • The certificate requirement (subsection c) takes effect 90 days after the act’s effective date.

Who would be affected

  • Manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retailers, and other entities in the food packaging supply chain that make, import, or distribute packaging sold or used in Massachusetts.
  • Food service businesses and retailers who purchase and use packaging (they must retain certificates).
  • Consumers indirectly through changes in available packaging and potential reductions in PFAS exposure.

Potential impacts

  • Public health/environmental: aims to reduce consumer and environmental exposure to PFAS associated with food packaging.
  • Industry: may require reformulation of packaging materials, supply-chain documentation systems, and alternative materials without PFAS; could increase compliance costs and shift sourcing.
  • Transparency: increased documentation and public access to compliance certificates.

Enforcement and gaps

  • The bill requires documentation and allows DPH access to certificates but does not specify civil penalties, enforcement mechanisms, or exemption criteria in the text provided.
  • No explicit de minimis or unintentional contamination exemption is included — the ban covers any amount intentionally added.

Legislative status & sponsors (as provided)

  • Status: Referred to Health (also appears to have been referred to Public Health in earlier entries).
  • Introduced: Filed Jan 7, 2025 (docket); listed as introduced May 5, 2025 in metadata.
  • Sponsors / cosponsors (as listed): Jeff Merkley (primary), Liz Krueger (primary), John Curtis (cosponsor); petitioners include Michael O. Moore, James B. Eldridge, Jonathan D. Zlotnik.
  • Related measures: SD 102 (replaces), S.8226 (prior session).

If you want, I can: (1) draft a one-page explainer for industry stakeholders, (2) compare this bill to existing state PFAS packaging laws (MA, CA, ME, etc.), or (3) identify likely compliance challenges and implementation questions for regulators.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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