An important part of the RV Industry Association’s mission is to keep tabs on legislation at both the state and federal levels, and it brought to attention this week a law in Maine that will begin to have consequences on Jan. 1. The law concerns the chemicals known as PFAS, which are found to be detrimental to the environment. While this law is exclusive to the Pine Tree State, RVIA estimates “millions of products and thousands of companies” will be affected.
On July 15, 2021, Maine Governor Janet Mills signed Legislative Document 1503 into law, to address environmental contamination of soil and water from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This substance may be found in carpets, rugs and stain resistant or waterproof fabrics. The law was based on a 2020 report by a task force that the governor appointed to look into PFAS chemicals in the state. Among the eight recommendations found in the report was a directive to “identify and reduce” the use of PFAS chemicals within the state. The bill that followed sought to do just that, with a reporting deadline for the notification by manufacturers of products for sale in the State of Maine containing intentionally added PFAS, scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
While the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has not yet officially begun the rulemaking required under the law that will direct members of the regulated community on how to comply, the 2023 reporting deadline will impact millions of products and thousands of companies who are based in Maine, do business in Maine, or sell products into the Maine marketplace.
To read RVIA’s full report, click here.