California's Cookware PFAS Disclosure Law: What Buyers Should Know
California's AB 1200 law prohibits the sale of cookware containing regulated PFAS and requires manufacturers to disclose chemicals on the cookware product list. The law took effect in January 2023.
What Happened
California's AB 1200 law, which took effect in January 2023, prohibits the sale of cookware containing regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in California. The law also requires manufacturers to disclose on a publicly accessible website the chemicals used in cookware product lists.
Starting in January 2024, the law also requires cookware sold in California to list on the product packaging any chemicals on the state's candidate chemicals list that are present in the cookware.
Why It Matters
California is a large market, and its regulations often influence product availability and labelling nationally. Manufacturers may choose to reformulate or relabel products for all U.S. markets rather than maintain separate California-specific products.
The law represents a state-level approach to PFAS regulation that goes beyond current federal requirements.
What It Means for Cookware
Cookware containing regulated PFAS cannot be sold in California. This primarily affects cookware with PFAS-based non-stick coatings.
Uncoated cookware, including titanium, stainless steel, and carbon steel, does not contain PFAS and is not affected by this law.
The disclosure requirement applies to chemicals on California's candidate chemicals list that are intentionally added to the cookware.
What Is Still Unclear
The law defines regulated PFAS as those listed under California's Safer Consumer Products regulations. The specific substances covered may evolve as the state's chemical lists are updated.
Other states have enacted or are considering similar legislation, creating a patchwork of state-level PFAS regulations for cookware.
Titan's Take
This law applies to cookware containing PFAS coatings. Uncoated titanium cookware does not contain PFAS and is unaffected. For a comparison of titanium and traditional non-stick coatings, see our guide.