Legislative Update
by Robert A. Smith, ASBWA Governance Relations Chair

On September 5th President Trump signed an executive order removing tariff exemptions from PET Resin being imported. This could mean a 15% to a 25 % increase in PET Resins being imported into the US.

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Make America Healthy Again: MAHA commission members released the make our children healthy again strategy on Sept. 9th, outlining key federal priorities related to nutrition, hydration, and environmental health.​ 

Key highlights include: Upcoming Dietary Guidelines: These guidelines influence national nutrition policy and could shape public messaging around healthy beverage choices.

​Front of Package labeling rule: The FDA is expecting to revise its proposed Front-of-Pack Nutritional information rule. We are waiting to see how these changes could impact bottled water labeling or placement.

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Research on Microplastics and Chemicals: The strategy calls for expanded federal research into microplastics and synthetic chemicals. This work will be led by the Dept of Health and Human Services and the EPA and the national institute of health. These efforts may have future implications for water quality and regulatory standards.

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(EPR) Extended producer responsibility laws have passed in multiple states and are being considered in other states. Recycled content is also being considered in several states. Currently California Has a reporting requirement for post-consumer plastics used in the California Redemption Value program (CRV).

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Recycled content is and will be a big issue for the bottle water industry in coming years.