In July 2021, the Maine state legislature enacted a law requiring manufacturers of products, including chemicals, with intentionally added PFAS to report various data about PFAS in those products and their components to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection beginning January 1, 2023. The information companies must provide is technically detailed.
The department is authorized to extend the notification deadline for manufacturers if it determines more time is necessary for a manufacturer to comply. Companies may be added to the Maine Chamber of Commerce's letter to the Department requesting a six-month extension by completing the appropriate form. The deadline to request to be added to the letter is November 28. Some companies with supply chains have been granted extensions.
Companies may also submit extension requests directly to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection by emailing pfasproducts@maine.gov and including similar information as on the Chamber of Commerce’s request page.
The SEMI PFAS Working Group meets regularly to share information on global PFAS regulations and develop comments for submission to regulatory authorities. SEMI members are encouraged to join and contribute to the SEMI PFAS Working Group by contacting ehs@semi.org.
James Amano is senior director of EHS & Sustainability at SEMI.