56:3-54 Findings, declarations.
395 words·~2 min read·
/nj/title-56/chapter-3/56-3-54A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
2. The Legislature finds and declares: that perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are man-made chemical compounds that have multiple fluorine atoms bonded to a chain of carbon atoms; that there are several thousand different types of PFAS, and new types are invented on a nearly daily basis; that since the 1930s, PFAS have been widely used in countless consumer products because they repel oil, water, and grease; and that PFAS continue to be used across a variety of industries for a variety of purposes and are ultimately contained in many of the products sold in the State.
The Legislature further finds and declares: that the carbon-fluorine bond used to make PFAS is one of the strongest chemical bonds and does not break down under typical environmental conditions; that PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the environment, rather than break down, over time; that PFAS enter the environment through manufacturing processes and waste streams, and humans are exposed through contaminated food, dust, air, drinking water, and certain consumer products; that human exposure to these chemicals has been linked to endocrine disruption, cancer, immuno-toxicity, and developmental impacts; and that PFAS have been detected in the blood serum of 98 percent of humans tested.
The Legislature further finds and declares: that contamination of air, soil, and water in the State from PFAS poses a significant threat to the environment of the State and to the health of its citizens; that the full extent of PFAS contamination in the State is not presently known, but is anticipated to be widespread and to require a significant expenditure of resources to identify and remediate; and that, to address the imminent threat of further contamination of air, soil, and water in the State and protect the public health of citizens in the State, it is imperative to conduct PFAS-related research within the State and to phase out the sale of certain nonessential products containing PFAS.
The Legislature therefore determines that it is in the best interest of the residents of New Jersey for PFAS to be prohibited from being intentionally added to certain products being manufactured and sold within the State, for manufacturers of cookware products containing PFAS to notify consumers about the presence of PFAS in their products, and for educational programming and research concerning PFAS to be available to residents in the State.
L.2025, c.202, s.2.