Minnesota’s PFAS Blueprint prioritizes pollution prevention as the most effective way to protect human health, the environment, and our economy from the effects of “forever chemicals.” Small amounts of PFAS may be harmful. Some build up in people over time, and all are difficult to remove from the environment. PFAS pollution and the risk of human exposure to it begins when the chemicals are created and continues decades or centuries after a product containing PFAS is disposed of. Pollution prevention protects taxpayers from costly PFAS investigation and clean-up expenses.
Minnesota has enacted laws — including but not limited to Amara’s Law — to end avoidable PFAS use in Minnesota by 2032. Certain details of Amara’s Law will be determined through an ongoing rulemaking process that includes public comment.
This webpage provides a consolidated reference and should not be relied on in place of Minnesota statutes and rules. “PFAS” means a class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom in all prohibitions.
PFAS prohibitions and reporting timeline
July 1, 2020 – Firefighting foam for testing or training
Intentionally added PFAS in firefighting foam used for testing or training purposes is prohibited with some exceptions. (Minn. Stat. § 325F.072)
Jan. 1, 2024 – Firefighting foam and food packaging
Firefighting foam
- Intentionally added PFAS in firefighting foam is prohibited for testing, training, and incident response, with limited exceptions that expire in 2026 and 2028. The law makes no exceptions for individuals or state or municipal fire departments. (Minn. Stat. § 325F.072)
- For additional guidance, see the MPCA’s fact sheet on firefighting foam use and disposal.
Food packaging
Intentionally added PFAS in food packaging is prohibited. (Minn. Stat. § 325F.075)
- Food packaging includes any container used to market, protect, handle, deliver, serve, contain, or store food or beverages.
- The law applies to any layer of packaging, including a unit package, an intermediate package, and a shipping container.
- The law applies to everything from the inks used on food and beverage containers to the interior or exterior blocking, bracing, cushioning, weatherproofing, tape, shrink wrap, or strapping used to protect the containers during shipping.
PFAS in food packaging webinar
The MPCA held a webinar in November 2023 to provide an overview of Minnesota’s PFAS in food packaging law, a review of applicable definitions, what businesses should do by Jan. 1, 2024, enforcement, and to answer questions.
Jan. 1, 2025 – 11 categories of products
Intentionally added PFAS in 11 categories of new products sold or distributed for sale are prohibited. These are the first prohibitions under Amara’s Law to take effect.
"Intentionally added" means PFAS deliberately added during the manufacture of a product to perform a specific function. For instance, if PFAS are applied to a rain jacket to give it water-resistant properties, that PFAS is intentionally added. If very small amounts of PFAS are found in the rain jacket due the manufacturing process and the rain jacket is water-resistant due to the use of other substances, that PFAS may not be intentionally added.
Temporary exemptions are allowed for internal components, electronic components, and certain vehicles, such as motorcycles designed for children. The 2032 prohibitions apply to these temporarily exempted components and products. (Minn. Stat. § 116.943, Subd. 5a)
- carpets or rugs
- cleaning products
- cookware
- cosmetics
- dental floss
- fabric treatments
- juvenile products
- menstruation products
- textile furnishings
- ski wax
- upholstered furniture
Jan. 1, 2026 – Pesticides and firefighting foam at airports and refineries
Pesticides
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) will not register or renew the registration of pesticides or cleaning products that contain intentionally added PFAS unless the MDA determines it to be a currently unavoidable use.
The MPCA will determine currently unavoidable uses based on whether that product is essential for health, safety, or the functioning of society and on whether alternatives are not reasonably available. Rulemaking will create a process by which currently unavoidable use is determined for the MPCA. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture will make “currently unavoidable use” determinations for pesticides, fertilizers, soil and plant amendments, and agricultural liming products.
See the Minnesota Department of Agriculture page for more information.
Firefighting foam
The use of firefighting foam containing PFAS is prohibited at airports, except for fixed firefighting systems in airport hangars. The state fire marshal has determined that the Federal Aviation Administration has approved the use of fluorine-free firefighting foams and those foams are available in sufficient quantities. (Minn. Stat. § 325F.072)
The use of firefighting foam containing PFAS is prohibited at oil refineries and terminals unless granted a waiver by the state fire marshal. (Minnesota Session Law — 2023, Chapter 60, Article 3, Section 31)
July 1, 2026 – PFAS in products reporting requirement
Reporting requirements begin for PFAS in products. Any manufacturer selling products containing intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota must report on the PFAS and their purposes. (Minn. Stat. § 116.943, Subd. 2)
- Pesticide and soil amendment products are reported to the MDA.
- All other products are reported to the MPCA.
- For more information, see the reporting PFAS in products webpage.
Jan. 1, 2028 – Firefighting systems in airport hangars
PFAS in fixed firefighting systems in airport hangars is prohibited unless granted a waiver. (Minn. Stat. § 325F.072, Subd. 3e)
Jan. 1, 2032 – Currently avoidable use prohibited
- All products containing intentionally added PFAS, including pesticides and soil amendments, are prohibited unless the use of the PFAS in the product is determined to be a currently unavoidable use. (Minn. Stat. § 116.943, Subd. 5c)
- Some medical products, including prosthetic devices and any medical devices, drugs, or products regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in medical applications, are exempted from the 2032 prohibitions. However, those products must be reported if they contain intentionally added PFAS starting in 2026. (Minn. Stat. § 116.943, Subd. 8)
Frequently asked questions
More Q&A will be added here as the MPCA resolves the issues they raise.
How does anybody know whether products for sale in Minnesota contain PFAS?
Manufacturers are responsible for knowing if their products contain PFAS. Concerned consumers are encouraged to ask manufacturers directly if a certain product contains PFAS. Reporting requirements that take effect on July 1, 2026, will provide detailed information on PFAS in products to the public. If the MPCA suspects a product contains PFAS and thus violates state law, the agency may require the manufacturer of the product to have it tested for PFAS.
How will these prohibitions be enforced?
MPCA has enforcement authorities under Minn. Stat. §§ 115.071 and 116.072 and may coordinate with the departments of agriculture, commerce, and health.
How should I dispose of products containing PFAS?
At the end of their useful life, products containing PFAS now in use will need to be disposed of as normal solid waste or as hazardous waste, depending on whether they come from a household or from a business. See our disposing of products containing PFAS page for more information.