New Jersey Enacts Legislation to Prohibit PFAS in Cosmetics

On January 12, 2026, the Governor of New Jersey signed the Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act (Bill S1042) into law. The legislation prohibits the sale and distribution of certain products containing intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including cosmetics (excluding soap), as well as carpets, fabric treatments, food packaging, and cookware.

The law entered into force immediately upon enactment. However, the PFAS prohibition will apply from January 1, 2028, providing industry stakeholders with a transition period to comply with the new requirements.

With respect to cosmetics, the legislation specifies that technically unavoidable trace amounts of PFAS do not constitute a violation. Such trace amounts may result from impurities in natural or synthetic ingredients, manufacturing processes, storage conditions, or migration from packaging materials. In addition, the cosmetic prohibition does not apply where intentionally added PFAS are present solely in electronic or internal components of a product.

With the enactment of Bill S1042, New Jersey joins several U.S. states—including New Mexico, Minnesota, and California—that have adopted measures to restrict PFAS in consumer products. The law specifically targets defined product categories, rather than imposing a comprehensive PFAS ban across all consumer goods. For cosmetic products sold in New Jersey, compliance with the new requirements will be mandatory from January 1, 2028.