TU-003
Textiles & Apparel
United States
California AB 1817: PFAS limit in textiles falls to 50 ppm in 2027
From 1 January 2027, California counts a textile article as containing regulated PFAS when total organic fluorine reaches 50 ppm, down from 100 ppm.
What changed
California AB 1817 (Health and Safety Code sections 108970 to 108971) bans new textile articles that contain regulated PFAS. The ban has applied since 1 January 2025.
Regulated PFAS means PFAS added on purpose for a function, or PFAS at or above a threshold measured as total organic fluorine. The threshold is 100 ppm from 1 January 2025 and 50 ppm from 1 January 2027.
Manufacturers must use the least toxic alternative when they replace PFAS, and must give sellers a certificate of compliance.
Who it affects
Anyone who makes, distributes or sells new textile articles in California, including apparel, footwear and workwear. Suppliers outside California are affected through their customers.
The law does not count personal protective equipment or clothing for exclusive US military use as apparel. Other exclusions include parts of vehicles, vessels and aircraft, industrial filtration media and architectural fabric structures.
Outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions is exempt until 1 January 2028. Until then it must carry the disclosure “Made with PFAS chemicals”, including in online listings.
Key dates
1 January 2025: ban in force, with a 100 ppm total organic fluorine threshold.
1 January 2027: threshold falls to 50 ppm.
1 January 2028: exemption for outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions ends.
What to test
Screen each material and component for total organic fluorine against the 50 ppm threshold, and confirm that no PFAS is added on purpose.
Re-test materials that passed at 100 ppm but were close to the old limit.
Sources
California Assembly Bill 1817 (2022), Chapter 762, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.
California Health and Safety Code sections 108970 and 108971, leginfo.legislature.ca.gov (read 9 October 2026).