California has enacted a new law requiring diaper manufacturers to disclose the ingredients used in their products, a measure aimed at increasing transparency for parents and addressing health and environmental concerns. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1901 last week, mandating that companies list diaper ingredients both on packaging and online.
Disposable diapers are a staple in many households, with babies using an estimated 3,000 diapers annually. However, growing attention from health experts, environmental groups, and consumer advocates has highlighted potential risks linked to chemicals and plastics commonly employed in these products. Studies have associated substances found in some diapers with developmental delays, reproductive harms, endocrine disruption, cancer, rashes, and asthma.
The legislation responds to demands from parents and advocacy organizations for greater product transparency. Under the law, diaper manufacturers must provide online ingredient disclosures starting in January 2029, with packaging disclosures to follow by July of the same year. The extended timeline allows companies to continue selling existing inventory before full compliance is required. Both packaging and product webpages may include links directing consumers to comprehensive ingredient lists hosted on manufacturers’ websites.
Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), the bill’s sponsor and a first-time father, emphasized the importance of accessible ingredient information for products that come into constant contact with infants’ sensitive skin. “Increasing transparency about the ingredients used in diapers is not a partisan issue; it is a pro-parent issue,” Berman said.
Noncompliance with the new requirements will result in fines beginning at $5,000 for initial violations and escalating to $10,000 for subsequent offenses. Governor Newsom’s signing message expressed support for enhanced transparency but raised concerns about the potential impact on businesses. He highlighted the need to protect manufacturers’ proprietary information and urged regulatory bodies to establish clear guidelines to balance transparency with the confidentiality of supplier data.
The Center for Baby and Adult Hygiene Products, representing diaper manufacturers, initially opposed the bill, citing existing rigorous internal safety protocols designed to safeguard infants. The association has since indicated a willingness to work with state officials to develop guidance that ensures meaningful consumer transparency while protecting trade secrets.
Advocates such as Kelly Hardy, senior managing director of health and research for the nonprofit Children Now, which co-sponsored the legislation, pointed to the vulnerability of infant skin, which is thinner and more absorbent, leading to increased risk from chemical exposure. Susan Little, California legislative director for the Environmental Working Group and also a bill sponsor, noted that some diapers contain synthetic musks for fragrance as well as plastics with phthalates and volatile organic compounds, chemicals linked in various studies to serious health concerns.
The law garnered support from a coalition of more than 300 organizations urging swift enactment, reflecting growing demand among parents for clarity regarding the products their children use daily. California’s measure follows a similar law passed in New York last year, indicating a broader trend toward ingredient disclosure in baby care products.