On October 16, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a bill I share with Representative Natalie Blais, An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure.
Menstrual products have been found to contain harmful substances such as PFAS, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals linked to various harmful reproductive and health issues.
There are no current requirements under federal or Massachusetts law for manufacturers of menstrual products to disclose the ingredients or chemicals present in their products.
This means that consumers often do not know, and are not able to find out, what ingredients are in the products that they’re putting in their bodies. Some companies have marketed their products to tweens, teens, and adults as organic and non-toxic — only to have testing later reveal that those same products included dangerous chemicals.
This bill requires manufacturers of menstrual products to disclose and list all ingredients present in their products on product packages and on the manufacturer’s website, and ensures that labels are updated if ingredients are changed.
This language follows in the steps of New York, California, and Nevada, all of which have enacted laws requiring menstrual product ingredient disclosure.
Since New York’s law took effect in 2021 and California’s in 2023, many large national brands have added ingredient lists to packaging and set up web pages listing ingredients.
Massachusetts’ law will add further legal support and market incentive for menstrual product labeling and ensure that local companies also disclose their ingredients.
I’m thrilled that we voted on this bill on the same day that we debated and voted on An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products, filed and led so beautifully by Senator Pat Jehlen and Senator Pat O’Connor.
Taken together, these bills offer a strong policy solution to increase menstrual equity — expanding access and ensuring safety for all menstruating people.
Thank you to Anna Haskins, Greta Hale, and Malcolm Howard (pictured above) — students at Frontier Regional High School in Deerfield who approached Rep. Blais with their concerns and a request that we file legislation.
Thank you also to Mass NOW and the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition for their stellar advocacy.
Read on for the remarks I delivered on the floor during our debate of the bill. Watch them here.
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I rise in support of An Act relative to menstrual product ingredient disclosure.
I am grateful to the Senate President, the Ways and Means Chair and their excellent teams for their work to bring this bill to the floor.
We are voting on this bill today because of their work and wisdom, and thanks to the passion and the courage of constituents Anna Haskins, Greta Hale, and Malcolm Howard — students at Frontier Regional High School in Deerfield who approached my partner in this work, Representative Natalie Blais, with their concerns and a request that we file legislation.
We are voting on this bill today because Rep. Blais listened deeply to these young organizers, wanted to take action, and invited me to join her.
And we are here today because of the stellar advocacy of MassNOW and the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition, and the backing of colleagues in the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators.
I’m also deeply grateful to the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Public Health who advanced this necessary bill quickly for the Senate’s consideration.
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Menstrual products have been found to contain harmful substances such as PFAS, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals, which are linked to various harmful reproductive and other health issues.
There are no current requirements under federal or Massachusetts law for manufacturers of menstrual products to disclose the ingredients or chemicals present in their products.
This means that consumers often do not know, and are not able to find out, what ingredients are in the products that they’re putting in their bodies. Some companies have marketed their products to tweens, teens, and adults as organic and non-toxic — only to have testing later reveal that those same products included dangerous chemicals.
Today in this chamber we’re focusing, in part, on menstrual equity. On period poverty. Yet we know that access is not equitable if products are not safe.
This bill requires manufacturers of menstrual products to disclose and list all ingredients present in their products on product packages and on the manufacturer’s website, and ensures that labels are updated if ingredients are changed.
This language follows in the steps of New York, California, and Nevada, all of which have enacted laws requiring menstrual product ingredient disclosure.
Since New York’s law took effect in 2021 and California’s in 2023, many large national brands have added ingredient lists to packaging and set up web pages listing ingredients. Massachusetts’ law will add further legal support and market incentive for menstrual product labeling and ensure that local companies also disclose their ingredients.
And I’m sure that organizers will not rest until every menstruating person has protections equal to those which will hopefully become law in the Commonwealth.
I’m thrilled that we’re considering this bill on the same day that we’re considering An Act to increase access to disposable menstrual products, filed and led so beautifully by Senator Jehlen.
Taken together, these bills offer a strong policy solution to increase menstrual equity – expanding access and ensuring safety for all menstruating people.
