California AB 1817

Impact Horizon

Garment brands and mills must trace their supply chains to eliminate durable water repellents that contain fluorinated polymers. Under California AB 1817, the presence of total organic fluorine is regulated down to low parts-per-million limits. This forces a complete transition to silicone, polyurethane, or plant-based repellent chemistry.

Testing Protocol

Analytical laboratories employ combustion ion chromatography to measure the total organic fluorine content in fabric samples. For compliance with California AB 1817, this testing must be carried out on both the bulk fabric and the trims, including zippers, buttons, and drawcords. If any component exceeds the legally mandated limit, the entire garment is deemed non-compliant and cannot be distributed.

This necessitates a rigorous testing program for every batch of finished garments intended for the North American market.

Supply Verification

Brand compliance managers require mill certificates and independent laboratory test results to ensure their products comply with the law. Because California AB 1817 carries significant penalties for non-compliance, traceability has become a prerequisite for textile sourcing. This has reshaped the formulation of finishes across the global apparel supply chain.