March ’25 at-a-glance … environment

Canada to require PFAS reporting 

In its recently published State of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report, Canada concluded that PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers, are harmful to human health and the environment and proposes adding PFAS as a class to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). Beginning this year, Canada also will require manufacturing and other facilities to report the use of PFAS to the National Pollutant Release Inventory to improve understanding of how PFAS are used in Canada, help evaluate possible industrial PFAS contamination, and support efforts to reduce environmental and human exposure to harmful substances. 

Comments are due May 7 on the risk management approach and the proposed order to add PFAS as a class, excluding fluoropolymers, to CEPA. 

States advancing anti-PFAS agenda 

With little activity at the federal level, states are actively advancing the anti-PFAS agenda with several introducing legislation already in 2025, including Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregan, Virgina and Vermont. NAFEM recently submitted a letter opposing Oregon HB 3512, which prohibits the distribution or sale of certain covered products that contain intentionally-added PFAS. As proposed, the bill requires a manufacturer of covered products to provide a certificate of compliance to persons that sell or distribute covered products in the state. As written, the bill requires that even items with no PFAS must provide a certificate of compliance. 

The latest information on state activities is included in the Complex Products Manufacturers Coalition Worksheet on NAFEM’s resources page.