On January 12, 2026, New Jersey's Governor signed the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act (PAFC Act, S1042/A1421) into law. This legislation restricts the intentional addition of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in certain consumer products, including fibre-based food packaging, cosmetics, and new carpets or fabric treatments. It also mandates labelling for cookware containing intentionally added PFAS (specifically in handles or food-contact surfaces), requiring a bilingual notice stating: "This product contains PFAS" in English and Spanish on the product label and in online listings.
Exemptions apply to cases where PFAS is present only in electronic or internal components, or in technically unavoidable trace amounts from impurities or manufacturing processes. Small cookware items unable to accommodate a label of at least two square inches (and lacking a wrapper or tag) are also exempt from labelling, as are products compliant with PFAS disclosure requirements under other state or federal laws. Both the bans and labelling requirements take effect on January 12, 2028. Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must establish a PFAS source-reduction program by January 12, 2027, submit reports on the program's success to the governor and legislature starting January 12, 2028 (and annually for 10 years thereafter), and conduct related research and environmental monitoring.