California Assembly passes legislation to ban toxic forever chemicals in cosmetics

SACRAMENTO– The California State Assembly passed legislation (AB 2771) Thursday to ban the sale of cosmetics and personal care products in California that intentionally contain toxic “forever” chemicals known as PFAS.  

PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals that are used in many consumer products to make them water resistant, durable, or slippery.  Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a wide range of serious health effects including kidney and liver disease, immune system suppression, birth defects and even cancer

AB 2771, backed by a coalition of consumer interest groups, public health groups, and environmental non-profits, prohibits the entire class of PFAS chemicals from being added to cosmetics and personal care products. 

The bill will now move to the California Senate. 

In response to the bill passage: Jenn Engstrom, CALPIRG State Director issued the following statement:

“We are thrilled that the California Assembly advanced AB 2771 today. Products we use on our bodies every day shouldn’t contain toxic ingredients that put our health at risk.  CALPIRG applauds Assemblymember Laura Friedman for her leadership on this critical legislation to make sure what we put on our bodies is toxic-free.”