Virginia’s menstrual product bill advances ingredient transparency amid PFAS concerns

Lawmakers in the US state of Virginia have passed legislation in both houses requiring menstrual products sold in the state to carry full ingredient labels. The transparency push comes amid growing safety concerns about harmful substances, such as toxic metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals,” in tampons, pads, and other menstrual products.

Delegate Holly Seibold’s House Bill 998 has been cleared by the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. If signed into law, manufacturers of menstrual products would be required to list the product ingredients from highest to lowest concentration on the packaging.

“These products are inserted into the body or remain in very close contact with it for prolonged periods of time, similar to how food is ingested or medication is taken. Anything that comes into that level of contact with our bodies should be labeled accurately and transparently. People deserve to know exactly what they are putting in and on their bodies,” delegate Seibold tells Personal Care Insights.

However, under US federal law, menstrual health items receive limited oversight compared to other consumer health products.

“Menstrual products are deemed ‘medical devices,’ but they are not held to the same transparency standards as over-the-counter medications, food, or cosmetics that are regulated by the FDA,” says Seibold.

She explains how menstruation has long been stigmatized and under-discussed, which has led to a lack of urgency around regulation and oversight of menstrual products. 

“When people hesitate to talk openly about women’s health, they are even less likely to introduce or prioritize policies that address the safety and transparency of these products.”

Curbing chemical cocktails

Tampons can remain inside the body for up to eight hours, creating prolonged exposure to any substances in the product.

The bill’s proposal follows increased public health awareness about PFAS. The group of chemicals, deemed “forever chemicals” due to their environmental persistence, has been linked to several types of cancer. 

A recent study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found PFAS associated with cancers in the urinary system, endocrine system, thyroid, kidney, oral cavity, brain, and other nervous system tissues. The National Cancer Institute refers to the “detrimental health effects” the group of chemicals poses and, beyond cancers, also mentions negative immune and developmental effects.

Seibold hopes the bill will significantly increase consumer awareness of PFAS and ensure manufacturers are held accountable for the content of their products. 

“When we require something like ingredient labeling, we force stakeholders involved in the supply chain to slow down, identify harmful substances, and ensure consumers are informed,” she says.

Seibold urges consumers to “do their due diligence” when purchasing consumer goods that may come into close contact with their bodies, just as they would with food and medicine.

Closing safety gaps

Across the US, there is a pattern of state-level actions to improve the safety of personal care products. Many states, such as New York, Washington, and California, have sought to enact bans against certain cosmetic ingredients amid limited historical federal oversight.

“Disclosure requirements are an essential first step before stronger regulation can take place,” says Seibold. “As more states begin to adopt stronger transparency standards, I hope we will see action at the federal level as well.”

She explains that ingredient transparency gives researchers, public health experts, and policymakers the information they need to identify patterns and understand risks. “We will be able to more effectively regulate when ingredients are fully disclosed,” she adds.

According to Seibold, research on PFAS is still evolving, but as the industry learns more about the chemicals and other potentially harmful substances, lawmakers must follow the science.

“If evidence shows that these chemicals pose serious risks to consumers, then stronger restrictions, including potential bans, should absolutely be considered. This process begins with transparency and moves toward stronger measures and accountability, grounded in data and research.”

She maintains that state policies can act as a “catalyst” for federal action.

Policies for women

If the bill is signed into law, manufacturers will be required to disclose all ingredients on the packaging.

Seibold says that a historical neglect of women’s issues is why it has taken so long for policymakers to take meaningful action on menstrual safety regulations. 

“Products used primarily by women have historically been treated with triviality in legislative bodies dominated by men. But things are changing in the legislature and in society overall,” she says.

According to Seibold, reproductive health and equity are policy issues, and Bill 998 and others in the same issue area represent a shift toward treating reproductive equity with the seriousness it deserves.

“Menstrual health, and women’s health more broadly, is not a niche issue; it is a public health priority and should be treated with the same urgency as any other concern.”