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LRB-4148/1
MCP:ahe
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
February 24, 2020 - Introduced by Representatives Gruszynski, Stuck, C. Taylor,
Hebl, Pope, Considine, Cabrera and Stubbs, cosponsored by Senators
Carpenter, Ringhand, Smith and L. Taylor. Referred to Committee on
Environment.
AB952,1,2 1An Act to create 299.48 of the statutes; relating to: regulating certain
2chemicals in food packaging.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to determine, no later
than January 1, 2021, whether a safer alternative exists for perfluoroalkyl and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging applications. The bill defines
“safer alternative” as an alternative that 1) would reduce the potential for harm to
human health or the environment; 2) is readily available in sufficient quantity and
at a comparable cost to PFAS; 3) performs as well or better than PFAS; and 4) if the
alternative is a chemical, has been approved for food contact by the federal Food and
Drug Administration. The bill requires DNR to submit a report on its
determinations to the Legislative Reference Bureau no later than January 1, 2021,
for publication in the Wisconsin Administrative Register.
Under the bill, if DNR determines in its January 1, 2021, report that there is
a safer alternative to PFAS in a specific type of food packaging application, then no
person may manufacture, sell, or distribute that type of food packaging if it contains
PFAS beginning January 1, 2023.
If DNR determines in its January 1, 2021, report that there is no safer
alternative to PFAS in a specific type of food packaging application, the bill requires
DNR to annually review whether a safer alternative for that food packaging
application exists, and whether safer alternatives exist for new food packaging
applications. If DNR determines at any time that safer alternatives exist, DNR must
submit a report on its determination to the LRB for publication in the Wisconsin

Administrative Register. If DNR makes such a determination, then no person may
manufacture, sell, or distribute that type of food packaging if it contains PFAS
beginning two years after the date of publication of the applicable report.
A person who violates the bill's prohibitions is subject to the same penalty that
applies under current law to other general environmental provisions, which is a
forfeiture of between $10 and $5,000 for each violation.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB952,1 1Section 1. 299.48 of the statutes is created to read:
AB952,2,2 2299.48 Food packaging containing PFAS. (1) Definitions. In this section:
AB952,2,33 (a) “PFAS” means a perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance.
AB952,2,94 (b) “Safer alternative” means an alternative that, when compared to PFAS,
5would reduce the potential for harm to human health or the environment or that has
6not been shown to pose the same or greater potential for harm to human health or
7the environment; is readily available in sufficient quantity and at a comparable cost
8to PFAS; performs as well or better than PFAS; and, if the alternative is a chemical,
9has been approved for food contact by the federal food and drug administration.
AB952,2,15 10(2) Alternatives assessments. (a) The department, in consultation with the
11Department of Health Services, shall determine whether safer alternatives to PFAS
12in food packaging applications exist. The department shall provide a report on its
13determinations under this paragraph to the legislative reference bureau no later
14than January 1, 2021, and the legislative reference bureau shall publish the report
15in the Wisconsin Administrative Register under s. 35.93 (2).
AB952,3,516 (b) If the department determines in its report under par. (a) that a safer
17alternative to PFAS in a specific type of food packaging application does not exist, the
18department shall annually review whether a safer alternative for that food

1packaging application exists, and whether safer alternatives for new food packaging
2applications exist. If at any time the department determines that safer alternatives
3exist, the department shall provide a report on its determinations to the legislative
4reference bureau and the legislative reference bureau shall publish the report in the
5Wisconsin Administrative Register under s. 35.93 (2).
AB952,3,9 6(3) Prohibition. (a) If the department determines that a safer alternative to
7PFAS in a specific type of food packaging application exists under sub. (2), no person
8may manufacture, sell, offer for sale, or distribute that type of food packaging if it
9contains intentionally added PFAS.
AB952,3,1410 (b) If the department determines that a safer alternative exists in a report
11published under sub. (2) (a), the prohibition under par. (a) shall be effective on
12January 1, 2023. If the department determines that a safer alternative exists in a
13report published under under sub. (2) (b), the prohibition under par. (a) shall be
14effective 2 years after publication of that report.
AB952,3,1515 (End)
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