Regulations that govern PFAS in baby carriers and other textile products have evolved rapidly over the past several years. Globally, new requirements are introduced regularly, and existing requirements are strengthened or changed.
If you are a manufacturer, importer, or reseller of baby carriers or slings, it’s important that you stay apprised of the laws and rules regarding PFAS in all the markets you sell to. At the BCIA, we make an effort to apprise our members when we become aware of changes, but the truth is that the landscape around PFAS regulations is rapidly evolving.
PFAS regulatory changes in the EU may impact testing for PFAS in baby carriers and slings
A November report from Textile Today discusses EU changes to PFAS regulations. This may impact how you test for PFAS in baby carriers and slings that you manufacture. The report is called “Brands face compliance shock after EU updates PFAS testing requirements.”
The report begins by saying, “An abrupt shift in EU PFAS testing requirements now threatens apparel brands that believed their products were PFAS-free. New test specifications and tightened thresholds rolled into the broader PFAS restriction process mean items certified or marketed as PFAS-free could fail when retested under the updated regime, creating immediate legal and commercial risk for brands and suppliers.”
The article goes on to say, “These updates tighten how regulators—and enforcement labs—define “presence” and “unintentional contamination,” narrowing safe margins that some brands have relied on.”
The article recommends that brands and importers take the following practical actions (this list is quoted directly from the article):
- “Immediate risk mapping — inventory that entered EU markets or carries PFAS-free claims should be flagged and prioritized for retesting under the new specifications.”
- “Work with accredited labs — confirm which test standards and detection limits labs will use and get documented method alignment.”
- “Supplier engagement — requires mill-level disclosure and chain-of-custody documentation, and builds a remediation timeline for items at risk.”
- “Contingency planning — model financial exposure (stock write-offs, recalls) and accelerate reformulation where feasible. Legal counsel should track UK REACH and national measures as well, since parallel regimes may apply. According to Fieldfisher, PFAS regulation is already being incorporated into UK REACH and national enforcement regimes.”
We recommend reading or listening to the full article at Textile Today to remain fully informed about the changes to PFAS regulations in the EU and how it may impact testing for PFAS in baby carriers and slings.
Regulations for PFAS in baby carriers, slings, and other consumer products in the US
The PFAS rules in the United States are interesting. At the federal level, the US government is reducing restrictions on PFAS. You can read more about the changes in in this article from Business Law Today: “EPA Proposes Significant Narrowing of PFAS Reporting Rule Under TSCA.”
However, individual US states are strengthening and adding laws to reduce PFAS in the environment, including textile products such as baby carriers and slings.
In May of 2025, ScienceDirect posted an article called “PFAS regulations and economic impact: A review of U.S. pulp & paper and textiles industries.” The article concludes that “The extensive presence of PFAS in the environment and their association with severe health risks demand immediate and coordinated action at both regulatory and industrial levels . . . . In the United States, state-level initiatives are increasingly driving mitigation efforts, adopting prevention-focused approaches similar to European policies that regulate PFAS as a class.”
Safer States has an overview of PFAS regulations by state, including the textile regulations that will regulate PFAS in baby carriers and slings.
Takeaways for companies who sell baby carriers and slings
It’s important for all manufacturers, importers, and resellers of baby carriers, slings, and other textile or children’s products to be aware that globally, the laws and rules around PFAS are evolving rapidly.
These changes are not limited to the US and the EU. Any manufacturer or seller of consumer products, including baby carriers and slings, should carefully check and monitor the regulations in any regional market into which they are selling.
It would be wise to review your product compliance plan and risk analysis documents to ensure you’ve considered the rules around PFAS in the products you sell.